Bond Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 We've found 8 dead fawns so far this year. That is extremely high. Usually we don't see any dead fawns besides the ones we hit with the hay mower or road kills. All of them look the same. They're killed in the deer bed with their chest cavity and guts completely eaten. The rest of them is mostly intact. It doesn't look like a coyote kill because coyotes rip them apart and drag them away into the woods and almost everything is eaten. I have a picture of one. I didn't post it because it's not something you want to see. Let me know if you do though.. The kills when we see them are pretty fresh - within a few days. Usually the doe is still hanging around the area. What could it be? Is it a disease and the crows are eating them? I see a lot of fawns while cutting hay but I never see any sick ones. Is something else killing them? Really strange.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Do you have bears there? I've seen what blackbears here do, and the first thing they go for is the innards. Since there are also lots of good green eats too, maybe you have some bears, that are supplementing their diet a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outdoorsmen1 Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? id like to see the pic. thats pretty strange..sorry to hear about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bond Posted June 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? [ QUOTE ] Do you have bears there? I've seen what blackbears here do, and the first thing they go for is the innards. Since there are also lots of good green eats too, maybe you have some bears, that are supplementing their diet a bit. [/ QUOTE ] We got a picture of one 2 or 3 miles away and there's always the occasional sighting here and there.... Could one or just a few bears do this much damage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bond Posted June 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Outdoorsmen, the picture is on a card on a trail cam that's in the woods right now. I'll get it as soon as I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ousoonerfan22 Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Eagles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fishermanwhohunts Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Cougars maybe? They're starting to reappear here in Iowa although the DNR denies it. Full size deer and I've even heard of cows being found in trees.They are definitely back in Iowa after I don't know how long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Warden told us that the midge flies can cause them to be paralyzed. Dont know about where you are, but our winter was extremely mild and the flies are the worst I have ever seen them here. If you have some fawns that are unable to get up and run, no telling what might be eating them. You did have a pic of a bear, so that might be a possibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? I have no idea, but I think I'd call the warden to check it out. Sounds like some sort of virus going around. I would think a predator like bear, cougar, yote, etc. would end up moving the carcass in the eating process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? I agree with Chris, contact the DNR ASAP! Sounds to me like you have sick fawns that are dying in the bed. The fishers and such are enjoying an easy meal. Ranger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Definitely contact the DNR. I would like to see the pic as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? [ QUOTE ] Cougars maybe? They're starting to reappear here in Iowa although the DNR denies it. Full size deer and I've even heard of cows being found in trees.They are definitely back in Iowa after I don't know how long. [/ QUOTE ] That's my thought too. Probably just a single female with kittens. A female cougar will kill a deer a day if they can catch one, and they're notorious for eating a small portion of the kill then leaving it for later. They usually go for the liver first. A bear will eat a lot more of the carcass, the skull will usually be crushed, and the hide partially peeled off. Good news is, if it's a cougar, she'll probably move on in a couple of weeks and the killings will stop. Their home range is enormous and they circle it every few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullStrutter Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? WOW! Weird!! I'd like to see the pic too please bond. PM it to me or post it or email it to me, [email protected]. Love to see what the heck is going on. I don't think any predatorial being did this type of killing. Not bears, not cougars, not coyotes... disease or flyes as mentioned or something like that sickening the fawsn and then anything as simple as oppossums, fishers, raccoons, any varmit could be eating the hurt or crippled or paralyzed fawns. strange indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Cougar is my second thought too. They are notorious for going after the liver and lungs first, and then leaving the rest for later. I said bear, because the bears around here are so well fed, some of them have that, kill, eat the innards and move on habit. The thing with bears is they will usually leave sign behind, like scat, or you will see where they have rolled around on the ground after the feed. There should be marks on the neck and head if taken down by a bear or cougar also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyderpancake Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? sounds like some sort of disease. Did the fawns have scratches or anything like that on them? send me a pic when you get them. Seems like there would be signs of struggle even with a fawn, along with broken necks and such if they were being attacked by bears, cats, or whatever else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Have gotten pics of does that I know have dropped that are not drug down bad at all here, but still not seeing any fawns here yet this year which is really unusual. I normally have seen them in the backyard every year by this time. Your post has me wondering if we are losing more than normal here too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cutter Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Thats alot of fawns in one area keep us posted .Im very interested to find out whats causing theproblem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Wow, that does not sound good. I'd definitely contact a wildlife person. Keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Unfortunately this morning I dint have a rifle with me when I saw two coyotes here, that were likely hunting for fawns around the edge of a brush pile where I had seen a doe that recently dropped just yesterday afternoon. Will be back in the same spot tomorrow morning with a fawn distress call and the .243. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeWalker Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Cougars maybe? They're starting to reappear here in Iowa although the DNR denies it. Full size deer and I've even heard of cows being found in trees.They are definitely back in Iowa after I don't know how long. [/ QUOTE ] That's my thought too. Probably just a single female with kittens. A female cougar will kill a deer a day if they can catch one, and they're notorious for eating a small portion of the kill then leaving it for later. They usually go for the liver first. A bear will eat a lot more of the carcass, the skull will usually be crushed, and the hide partially peeled off. Good news is, if it's a cougar, she'll probably move on in a couple of weeks and the killings will stop. Their home range is enormous and they circle it every few months. [/ QUOTE ] If Cougars are eating well, believe me, they aren't going to move on........ND was in a state of denila also about their being a cougar population, yet civilians kept reporting sightings........so last year the decided to hold an introductory season, with a 5 cat limit...........the limit was met and the season was closed well before it was over.........it finally proved to the F&G that we do have a resident population and they are breeding as well........ On another note, cats will normally cover their kills when finished eating, to hide them for later......if they were out in the open I wouldn't think it was a cougar........how 'bout wolverine or fishers ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIwhitetailhunter Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Maybe a hungry woodchuck. Don't have any idea what it may be. Interesting though. Keep us informed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bond Posted June 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Ok here's a pic. It's an older one so it's a little more cleaned up by the maggots. I didn't get a pic of a fresh one. I'll try if I see another in time. But anyway this is what they all look like, laying in a deer bed with just their inners eaten - http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/enge2006/DSC01630.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bond Posted June 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Thanks guys. Yeah, everyone I talked to suggests to contact the game warden so I'll do that. In the meantime, I'm gonna put a bunch of cams in that general area to see what I can find if it's a predator that's eating them. I hope it's a predator and not a disease. Can you suggest any scents to put out in front of the camera that will attract a bear, cougar, or whatever could be killing the fawns? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? [ QUOTE ] Can you suggest any scents to put out in front of the camera that will attract a bear, cougar, or whatever could be killing the fawns? [/ QUOTE ] Peanut-butter ... Bears and deer love it. Maybe you'll get some action to prove what it is. I hope so. Get a big plastic jar of it. Cut out the bottom of the container..screw the lid to a fence-post or tree ...screw on the container, and your set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest woodsnwater Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Re: What\'s killing all these fawns? Could be just about any predatory animal that thrives in your area.Maybe a DNA test could reveal some info. These days & times it may be some sick cult group getting their kicks. Hopes it stops soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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