Human contact may endanger baby antelope Published June 11, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Daryl Knee 90th Space Wing Public Affairs F.E. Warren -- The sun's morning rays begin to illuminate the pastures, plains and hills that are common throughout Warren. With each passing minute, the lingering darkness of the valley gives way to the brightness of dawn. Shapes take form with the rising of the sun. A Pronghorn antelope grazes with a newborn fawn close at her side. The mama antelope, sensing an unseen threat, walks away from her fawn, seemingly abandoning it. Something must be done to help this defenseless baby antelope. Some action must be taken, right? This scenario is common every year around the beginning of June, the antelope birthing season. However, contrary to what some might believe, no intervention is needed. Either protecting the fawns from natural predators, such as an eagle or coyote, or protecting them from vehicles or humans, the adult antelope will most assuredly 'abandon' the fawn. However, deserting her fawn is the unique way in which the mother antelope protects her young by attracting potential predators away. Instinctively, fawns will stay put until the mother's return. It is the behavior of people trying to help in the mother's absence that really endanger the fawns. "When people pick up, handle or pet a baby antelope, the mother will smell humans on their young and truly leave," said Cathy Pesenti, 90th Civil Engineer Squadron. Truly abandoned fawns rarely survive more than a couple of days after human contact, Mrs. Pesenti added. However, without human intervention, the mother will return to care for the fawn after the danger has passed. If people discover a fawn in a location that could endanger its safety or see a fawn being handled by someone who shouldn't be touching it, they should call George Mowl, Warren's conservation officer, at 773-3544.