This little deer knew exactly who to turn to for assistance.
Every spring, deer populations increase because mother deer give birth to fawns.
Mating season lasts from late October to early January, and fawns are born between late May and early June.
For the first week of its life, the mother deer hides her fawn in vegetation to protect it from predators. She will return to her baby and feed it on a regular basis.
A fawn stays with her mother for about a year after birth, nursing for three to four months.
Dawn Rasmussen’s husband was outside in their yard in May 2020 when he heard a baby deer crying and bleating like a sheep.
When a baby deer came running up to him and ended up standing on his foot, he went in the direction of the sound.
Dawn and her husband gave the fawn the name Thor.
They immediately called the vet after discovering the baby deer, and after a thorough examination, they determined that Thor had been abandoned. They believe his mother died because fawns are not typically left to fend for themselves.
“The fact that Thor was up and around was a really bad sign,” Dawn told GeoBeats Animals.
Because the vet didn’t have room for him, they became instant deer parents when Thor was returned to them.
Throughout the journey, Dawn made it clear that she would raise him as a wild animal, not a pet.
They built a large outdoor enclosure for him to roam and stay outside.
“For the first month and a half, I slept outside in a tent near him, so he was safe at night,” she explained.
From May to September, she also fed him goat’s milk through a bottle every three hours. Dawn cared for him and taught him how to hunt for food.
Thor was out in the wild by four months old, coming and going as he pleased.
“He would be out there somewhere, and when I would call, ‘Thor, milky,’ he would come running down and come get his bottle of milk,” she added.
If she didn’t come out quickly enough, he’d sit on a doormat outside on their deck, waiting for his milk.
Thor is now two and a half years old, and he has a special bond with Dawn. He is a member of a herd of deer that lives nearby and includes Thor’s aunts and sisters.
He now leaves his home range for extended periods of time, and Dawn may not see him for a month at a time.
However, he always returns to hang out with Dawn.
When he arrived at her house with a leg injury, their bond grew stronger. Dawn took care of his wound, worked out with him, and even massaged his leg.
Thor has recovered completely and can now run and jump like any other deer.
Because of their mutual trust, the other deer in Thor’s herd are also at ease with Dawn.
If she is sitting outside in the yard, Thor will join her, and the other deer will gather around them.
Dawn has grown to appreciate the outdoors and what is going on around her as a result of caring for Thor.
She is more aware of the environment and the value of animals in our world.
“Thor’s been a great inter-species ambassador. It makes my life so wonderful. I really treasure every moment I have with Thor,” said Dawn.