Fawn rescue saves more than 5000 fawns from death by mower in 2024
Published: Friday, Aug 2nd 2024, 01:00
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More than 5000 fawns have been rescued in Switzerland this season. This is reported by the non-profit organization Rehkitzrettung.
According to the association, 5195 roe deer have been rescued in Switzerland this season. The slight decrease is a consequence of the difficult weather conditions this year, reports the association. The normal birth season for fawns is between the end of April and the beginning of June.
This year, due to the warm, sunny weather at the beginning of April, farmers had already mowed before the fawns were set. Due to the wet weather that followed, many deer had also set their fawns in the forest and not in the wet meadows.
Roe goats hide their fawns from predators in the tall grass. The young animals have a ducking instinct during this phase of their lives. Anything that offers them protection also puts their lives in danger.
Farmers have to mow their meadows at the same time, which leads to an average of 1500 fawns being killed by agricultural machinery each year. However, experts believe that the number of unreported cases is significantly higher. According to Rehkitzrettung.ch, it can be assumed that several thousand fawns are killed.
The volunteers from Fawn Rescue Switzerland fly over meadows to be mowed with their drones and thermal imaging cameras in order to find and rescue as many fawns as possible. The association works closely with hunters and farmers. Every year, the association trains new rescue teams to track down fawns across the country.
©Keystone/SDA
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