In northern Germany, too, it is currently cold and the food supply for wild animals is sparse. Nevertheless, the first New Year’s fawn has now been spotted here. Luckily, mother and child are doing well and have made themselves comfortable in a thicket of blackberries. This is reported by the owner of the property where the animals are currently staying. But the birth of the little fawn is unusual.
“That is not normal, because deer, like martens, badgers, stoats and brown bears, have what is known as dormancy. The development of the embryo is interrupted and the gestation period is extended. This is to prevent the offspring from being born at times when the food supply for rearing is not optimal. Fawns are usually born in spring when there is enough food for mother and child,» explains biologist Florian Eiserlo
The New Year’s fawn from northern Germany may be a special case, but it cannot be ruled out that many other wild winter children are struggling to survive in our forests. therefore calls for special attention. «If you spot a fawn or another young animal these days, you shouldn’t pick it up right away,» emphasizes Eiserlo. “Instead, you should take your time and observe the animal, because most of the time the mother is nearby. But if you find a very weak or injured animal, you should contact the nearest wildlife station,» says the biologist. Dog owners are urgently asked to make sure they stay on the paths when walking through the woods and fields and always keep their four-legged friends on a leash.
You can find more information about native wild animals here here.