I Do Not Like Mondays

This morning around 8:30, I was taking my daughter outside to wait for the school bus when I opened the door and was left almost speechless. Right there was a tiny baby fawn, curled up on our welcome mat!  

I was totally taken aback. I closed the door and we rerouted our exit through the garage instead to avoid touching or disturbing this little fella. I also grabbed my camera to snap a few photos, though being careful not to get too close.

I honestly wasn’t sure what to do. The fawn didn’t appear to be injured, just there waiting for mama. If we called animal control services, for instance, I figured they’d be likely to euthanize the fawn, which I certainly did not want to happen.

Or should I maybe try to scoop up and transfer this very young visitor to a box or something to protect it, moving it elsewhere? Touching this infant and getting any human scent on it didn’t seem wise at all.

It was still cool and shady out front, though it was expected to be a very hot day, and this little baby deer wasn’t in any immediate danger. There I was, pretty much looking at Bambi on my doorstep, so young I’d be surprised if it could walk much at all.

Unsure of my next move, I asked Google about this one (why not?). Here’s what I got for an answer:

“If you find a baby deer (fawn) on your doorstep, leave it alone and give it space. Mother deer leave their fawns curled up and hidden for hours while they forage. Do not touch, feed, or move the fawn, and keep all pets and children strictly away.”

We live on a busy street where many drivers speed by, and our house is pretty close to the road. I was worried that the mother could’ve been hit by a car or something.

I kept monitoring the situation, and maybe 20 minutes or so later, our adorable little visitor was gone, having been reclaimed by its mama. Whew!

It was quite a thing to have happen! This occurred the day after my 50th birthday, and it was also my daughter’s last day of school. I mean, a mother deer left her very young fawn on our doorstep, thinking it a safe place. What might that mean, taking it as a portent for the future?  

I’ll go ahead and call it a good omen, in its way, maybe signaling new life and good things to come. We shall see!