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AZGFD: Man picked up 3-day-old deer fawn, took it to a local bar

Published  August 7, 2017 6:22pm MST
Matt Rodewald's Reports
FOX 10 Phoenix

PHOENIX - Sometimes people like to get a little too close to nature. A man found a 3-day-old deer fawn near Salome and thought it was abandoned. According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, he picked it up and took it to a bar to show his friends -- and now it can no longer live in the wild.

He's cute, he's cuddly, he's definitely hungry, but he shouldn't be here.

"It's very cute, but it's one of the saddest stories we see," said Kellie Tharp, Chief of Education at AZGFD.

This little guy might be 5 pounds soaking wet. He was born late last week, but his life changed forever on Saturday by a stranger who thought he was doing the right thing.

"They found it and they decided to take it to a local bar in Salome and see if anybody else wanted to take it home," said Tharp.

It ended up in the hands of AZGFD officials -- many with one question in mind.

"Who would take a deer fawn out of the wild and into the bar? I would say that is a new one, we hear a lot of things, but that definitely isn't one that's normal."

Ripped from his mother in the wild and now a life of permanent captivity. AZGFD officials say the fawn needs round the clock care in order to survive.

"Now that the fawn's been in our care, you see that it was being bottle fed, it's being imprinted. It's relying on humans, it doesn't have a fear of humans so this fawn is non-releaseable," said Tharp.

It's an unfortunate lesson of what not to do with wildlife even though you might think you're doing a good thing.

"A lot people are going to think 'Oh, what a great pet that would make.' Believe me, it's a lot of work, I would rather see them in the wild. Although its cute, it's best to leave the fawn where you found it," added Tharp.

AZGFD needs your help to care for the fawn. Text 'CRITTER' to 41444 to donate or go to https://www.azgfd.com/?p=6089 for more information.

>>AZGFD VIDEO: Deer Fawn Illegally Removed From the Wild