Roe Deer Fawn Rescue: Farmers, Register Your Fields Now
In Switzerland, hundreds of roe deer fawns are struck by mowing machines every year. The Swiss Animal Protection STS is calling on farmers to request drone deployments in good time.
Every year in Switzerland, hundreds of roe deer fawns and other wildlife are struck and fatally injured by mowing machines during the hay harvest.
To prevent this animal suffering, the Swiss Animal Protection STS, together with the association Rehkitzrettung Schweiz (RKRS), is calling on farmers to actively participate in roe deer fawn rescue and to request drone deployment in good time. The use of drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras is the most efficient method for locating fawns and bringing them to safety.
The newborn animals spend the first weeks of their lives hidden in tall grass and remain motionless on the ground when danger approaches — an innate instinct to freeze that protects them from predators, but turns deadly during meadow mowing. The use of multicopters is highly efficient, spares the meadow vegetation and conserves human resources. A field of two to three hectares can be searched in 20 to 30 minutes — including travel time, unpacking and setting up the drone.
Register Fields for Free Now
Farmers can contact their local hunting association to organize a roe deer fawn rescue together before mowing. Alternatively, they can register their meadows free of charge and without any hassle via the website of the association Rehkitzrettung Schweiz. This ensures that a drone team searches the field and moves roe deer fawns out of the danger zone before mowing begins. Roe deer fawn rescue is always teamwork between farmers, drone pilots, and hunters. They also decide whether the fawn is carried in a box to the edge of the forest or left in the meadow while the farmer mows around it. Once the work is done, the fawn is released immediately. The fawn and its mother find each other through calls.
STS supports RKRS with drone fleet
Thanks to the tremendous dedication of volunteer drone pilots, RKRS has been able to rescue several thousand roe deer fawns in recent years. To further expand operations, STS is again providing a fleet of ten drones this year. In 2024, 198 roe deer fawns were rescued using STS drones; the year before, the figure was 292.
Roe deer fawn rescue begins soon – public asked for understanding
The drone pilots will soon be in action again early in the morning to rescue roe deer fawns. STS and RKRS ask the public for understanding regarding possible noise emissions from the drone flights.
More information:
www.rehkitzrettung.ch/feldanmeldung
