The number of young fawns found thanks to drones increased by 18% in 2021. Thanks to newly trained pilots, the number of days of intervention has also increased, by 81%, and the areas of grassland flown over by 67%.
The organization Sauvetage Faons attributes this relatively small increase compared to the interventions to the early harvest of hay, to the different vegetation depending on the region and to the increase in births of fawns in the forest. Many does were still pregnant during the early mowing.
Every spring, many does bring their young into the tall grass, where they hide. During the first weeks of their life, fawns have the instinct to stoop, which protects them from natural predators, but at the same time constitutes a deadly trap.
It is therefore common for a cowering fawn to fall victim to a reaper – on average this happens around 1500 times a year according to official figures. However, the number of unreported cases is significantly higher. According to the association’s website, it must be assumed that several thousand fawns are killed.
The Sauvetage Faons association is made up of volunteer drone pilots who fly over the meadows using thermal cameras. The association works in collaboration with hunters and farmers. It trains new teams every year.
/ATS
