A south Island BC SPCA animal rehab centre seeks helmets to help volunteers keep safe during its annual late-summer fawn release.

About a dozen fawns a year find their way to the agencyB次元官网网址檚 Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) in Metchosin, said Wallis Moore Reid, senior wildlife rehabilitation at Wild ARC.

Most are orphaned but some are brought in unnecessarily because of those who mean well B次元官网网址� and offer unneeded help before checking in with experts.

When fawns are quite young, they arenB次元官网网址檛 strong enough to keep up with their mother, Moore Reid explained.

B次元官网网址淪he essentially parks them while she goes off to forage,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he mother only visits them twice per day, usually at dawn to dusk.B次元官网网址�

At that age, they curl up and stay very still B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渂eddingB次元官网网址� to remain safe from predators.

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The same can happen if theyB次元官网网址檙e interrupted by traffic or the mother is spooked in some way while seeking a B次元官网网址減arking spot.B次元官网网址� A person may come along the fawn awaiting its parent and assume itB次元官网网址檚 orphaned.

At Wild ARC, the young ungulates receive specialized care, including milk replacement formula for specifically black-tailed deer. Staff gradually wean them in July and by August they start to grow and lose their spots.

B次元官网网址淚n September we prepare for their release. At this point, the fawns are quite large and therefore they do pose a risk to staff when handling them,B次元官网网址� Moore Reid said.

While care is hands-off, during the release process staff wear personal protective equipment.

A process honed over the years, fawns are herded into special containers, such as a modified horse trailer, and staff wear personal protective equipment as protection from the potential of jumping fawns.

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Refined as much as possible to minimize this risk, they did opt to add to the PPE this year, adding helmets to the repertoire. As a non-profit, and a need for expensive helmets that offer 360-degree protection while allowing visibility, theyB次元官网网址檙e open to donated helmets. Anyone interested can email info@wildarc.com to see if theirs fits the bill or learn more.

As the only rehabilitation centre on Vancouver Island that can care for fawns right now this yearB次元官网网址檚 release locations span from Greater Victoria as far north as Campbell River B次元官网网址� to release fawns where theyB次元官网网址檙e found.

The release date is flexible but lands generally in mid-September to mid-October depending on the fawns themselves. This year six fawns are slated for release into the wild.

Anyone looking for advice on an injured or orphaned deer or any wildlife can call the BC SPCA animal helpline toll-free at 1-855-622-7722 for advice.