Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 26th June 2023
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Leave fawns in the wild, public urged
A fawn on its own may just be waiting for its mother to return from foraging.
Taking healthy fawns could be ‘death sentence’ for them, warns SSPCA.

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA) has urged the public not to remove fawns from the wild, following a concerning case last week.

The animal welfare charity tried to make contact with a member of the public who had taken home a healthy fawn. The person refused to reveal their location and claimed that they were able to look after the animal as they had read advice online.

It is believed that the fawn is being kept in close proximity to a dog, which could add to its stress.

Does will sometimes leave their fawns hidden in long grass or beneath bushes while they look for food. This can lead to members of the public mistakenly thinking that they have found an abandoned fawn which needs help. In such cases, it is best to wait to see if the mother returns.

Assistant manager of the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre, April Dodds said: “We are still seeing a number of fawns which have arrived at the centre where they have been removed from the wild for no reason. Removing fawns from their natural habitat can only do harm if they are an otherwise healthy animal with a mother.

“The public may think this is not a serious issue as the animals can be cared for by the Scottish SPCA but fawns are possibly the most complex and challenging animal we deal with at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre. In many cases removing that young animal from the wild is effectively a death sentence.”

However, there are times when it is necessary for the public to seek help when they see a fawn in distress.

Ms Dodds added: “If you spot a fawn who is walking around and calling out, they may need help. Monitor the fawn from a distance for a few hours, allowing the mother to come in and feed it if she has left the area. If no mother returns to feed the fawn, then please call our animal helpline for advice on 03000 999 999.”

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.