Utah Wildlife Officials: Please Don't Pick Up The Deer

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - State wildlife officials are warning that young deer and elk tend to venture out of the woods and into Utah neighborhoods during summer months.

They say the best thing for people to do is to keep fair distance.

Ron Stewart of the Utah Division of Wildlife said in an email statement Monday that the animals use several techniques to help their young avoid taking on a scent that could attract predators, such as giving them space.

For example, a fawn's mother usually strays from the fawn to eat and rest, but she typically stays close by.

Stewart cautions that petting or picking up the young animals could be detrimental.

He says it could impart a human odor on the newborns, which makes it easier for predators to find them.