Roe deer give birth to fawns in late May and June, and the fawns are left concealed in vegetation during the day, making them extremely vulnerable to agricultural machinery and dog disturbance.
Fawns killed by machinery experience traumatic injury. Fawns disturbed and handled by well-intentioned people who believe them orphaned are often rejected by their mother when returned, leading to starvation. Orphaned fawn rehabilitation has very low success rates and young deer raised in captivity have poor welfare outcomes when released. Prevention of disturbance is the primary welfare intervention.