Saving vulnerable animals from mowers

Deer are born between April and July. This is the same time farmers mow their fields for silage. In the first 2 weeks after they are born, fawns are particularly vulnerable to becoming victims of mowers because they can't move out of the way. Up to 6 weeks they can move but tend to return to the field and remain at risk.

Fawns are camouflaged so are almost impossible to see when mowing. The same goes for meadowbird and pheasant eggs.


We work with thermal drones to find fawns, eggs and others and mark the locations with stakes and baskets so that mowers can avoid them. Under some circumstances we move them out of the way of mowers.

Deer fawns rely on calls to communicate with their mothers so it is safe to move them in a 200m area. We use methods to limit contact with the fawns when moving them because a mother will abandon a calf with human scent on it.

We are always looking to engage with more farmers so that we can check their fields before they mow.

I volunteer with organisations that coordinate these efforts during mowing season.