Every year, wildlife rehabilitators across Michigan receive calls for injured or orphaned fawns. These babies often arrive with broken legs or other serious injuries, but under current Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations, all fawns must be released by October 1—regardless of their condition or ability to survive.

This law is not only arbitrary—it’s inhumane.

A broken leg alone takes at least three weeks to heal without complications, and additional time is needed to rebuild strength.
For fawns brought in late summer, the Oct. 1 deadline means they are denied the full medical care they need.
Many of these animals are only 3–4 months old. They deserve the same fair chance at life as every other wild animal Michigan rehabilitators care for.

Wildlife rehabilitation is about healing and survival, not sending vulnerable animals back into the wild too soon. By forcing release before they are ready, Michigan’s current policy effectively sentences many fawns to suffering and death.

We are calling on the Michigan DNR and state lawmakers to:

End the Oct. 1 mandatory release date for fawns.
Allow licensed wildlife rehabilitators to determine appropriate release timing based on the animal’s health, growth, and ability to survive.
Adopt humane standards that align with the treatment and release guidelines for other wild animals in rehabilitation.

These innocent lives should not be lost to outdated and rigid laws. Fawns deserve compassion, care, and the opportunity to grow strong enough to return to the wild safely.

Your voice matters. By signing this petition, you are urging the Michigan DNR to change this harmful policy and give every fawn a real chance at life.

Together, we can protect Michigan’s wildlife and ensure that compassion—not a calendar—decides when an animal is ready to go home.