It looked like a scene from a Disney film on Friday afternoon in nature in Vught: a fawn at a very involuntary audition for Bambi on Ice. While the mother darted to the other side in one elegant jump, her young one went more in the direction of a swaying tightrope walker. Paws in all directions, butt following behind and panic in the eyes. No matter how sad it looks, it is better not to help the animal in such a situation, warns forest ranger Frans Kapteins.
The video clearly shows how the narrow legs of the animal slide in all directions and leave significant marks on the ice. Yet it is more common for deer to venture onto thin ice, says forest ranger Frans Kapteijns. “Sometimes they have to cut off a piece of road or are just curious.”
Slip and slide
It is awkward, just like the first steps on the ice can be a bit of a shock for people. “But it is not dangerous, at least, just like people, they can fall over, but nothing more,” reassures the ranger.
Fortunately, the mother deer, the deer goat, set a good example by sprinting to the other side, Frans saw. “She can’t really help him by reaching out a paw, but just like human babies, the young ones just have to learn to solve it themselves. She must have lured the animal so that it follows her. Because she immediately set a good example, he will get there after some slipping and sliding.”
Why can’t you help the deer across the pond yourself?
No matter how sad it may look, let the deer do his or her own thing, Frans warns. “Because then the mother may reject the animal. Deer are very fearful flight animals, so as soon as they smell a human or, for example, dog scent on the calf, they become afraid and reject the animal.” According to Frans, that is even more sad than those few minutes of sliding on the ice. “Fawns cannot yet find food for themselves.”
Some animals continue to struggle on the ice for much longer and become so panicky that fatigue sets in and emergency services have to be called in to get the animal back onto the shore. “These professionals then have a remedy with them that prevents their odor from reaching the calf.”
All’s well that ends well
Fortunately, this Bambi saga ends happily and there was no need for emergency services to be involved. After sliding for several minutes, the little deer arrived safely on the shore with its mother, although next time it may choose a route without a skating rink.