Originally published 2022-10-02.
In January 2021, four-year-old Dominic Brown went outside to play during a family holiday in Massanutten, Virginia, and came back with a young deer standing calmly at his side. His mother, Stephanie Brown, grabbed her camera, posted the picture on Facebook, and within days it had been shared tens of thousands of times. Dominic named his new friend Flash, and then walked the deer back to the woods himself.
It is a sweet story, and it also raises a question many parents and hikers face every spring: what should you do when a young deer seems to want your company? Here is what happened, why a deer might have followed a child, and what wildlife experts recommend.
What happened at Massanutten
The Browns were staying at Massanutten, a mountain resort community in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, surrounded by forest. On the morning they were packing up to head home, Dominic slipped outside to play.
His mother described the moment to WJLA, the ABC station in Washington, D.C.: "I peeked around the corner, and he was just standing there with a baby deer." The deer stood beside him on the porch as if the two had arranged to meet.
Stephanie later said that her first reaction was disbelief. "I was in shock," she told the station, adding that she did not know what to do. Dominic, by contrast, treated the visit as completely normal, which is part of what makes the photo so funny.
How the pair met is not known. Stephanie suspected the young deer may have been drawn by crackers in her son's pocket, though that was her guess rather than something anyone saw.
The photo that charmed the internet
Stephanie shared the picture with a simple caption: "Dominic really went outside and brought a deer back." In the image, Dominic stands in a dark hooded jacket on a wooden deck, smiling at the camera, while the slender deer stands just beside him, looking equally relaxed.
By the end of January 2021, WJLA reported that the post had been shared more than 30,000 times, and later reports put the number closer to 50,000. Commenters joked that he had brought home Bambi, said the two looked like old friends, and praised how unbothered both seemed by the whole thing.
Dominic gave the deer a name worthy of the moment: Flash, after the DC Comics superhero known for his speed. Fittingly, it was not long before Flash went back into the trees, with Dominic leading the way.
Why would a young deer follow a child?
White-tailed deer, the species common across Virginia, are naturally wary of people. A few things can make a young one bolder.
Its age. Fawns in Virginia are born between May and July. A deer seen in January would therefore be roughly six months old, past the spotted newborn stage and already eating on its own, but still young and inexperienced. That fits the photo, which shows a slim deer without spots rather than a tiny newborn.
Food and familiarity. In resort areas and suburbs, deer often get used to people, gardens and handouts. A young animal that has learned humans sometimes mean snacks may approach instead of running. Stephanie's cracker theory is plausible for that reason.
A small, quiet companion. A child moves differently from an adult and may seem less threatening. That does not mean the deer saw Dominic as a friend in the way people do, but it may have been curious rather than frightened.
What to do if you find a fawn
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) gets a wave of calls every spring about "abandoned" fawns. Its advice is consistent:
- Leave it where it is. Mother deer deliberately stay away from their fawns for most of the day so they do not lead predators to them. A spotted fawn lying still in the grass is usually doing exactly what it should.
- Expect the mother to be out of sight. A doe returns several times a day to feed or move her fawn, but usually only for a few minutes, and she will not come back while people are nearby.
- If you already picked it up, put it back. DWR says a fawn taken within the last 24 hours should be returned to the exact spot where it was found, and you should leave right away.
- Call for advice if it is injured. Only hurt or truly orphaned animals need help. In Virginia, the DWR wildlife conflict helpline (1-855-571-9003, weekdays) can connect you with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Most supposed orphans picked up each year did not need rescuing at all, and even with expert care, the survival rate for fawns raised in rehabilitation is low. The kindest choice is usually to walk away.
Why wild deer should stay wild
A deer that grows used to people may seem charming, but it is at greater risk. It is more likely to wander near roads, dogs and homes, and a grown deer that has lost its fear of humans can become pushy or dangerous, especially during the autumn rut.
Keeping a deer is not an option either. In Virginia, raising a wild animal in captivity requires a wildlife rehabilitation permit from DWR, and the same principle applies in most places. Feeding deer can also draw them into neighbourhoods and concentrate them in ways that are bad for their health.
That is why the best part of Dominic's story is its ending. He did not try to keep Flash. The deer stayed only a short while, and the boy walked it back toward the trees where it belonged.
Common myths about baby deer
"A fawn alone is an orphan"
Usually not. Being left alone is the normal survival strategy for young fawns. Their spotted coats help them blend into vegetation, and they often freeze instead of running.
"If a person touches a fawn, the mother will reject it"
Wildlife officials advise returning a fawn that was moved within a day, which shows the mother is expected to take it back. It is still best not to touch one at all.
"A tame young deer can be raised as a pet"
It cannot, legally or safely. Young deer that become accustomed to people do not grow into safe pets, and keeping one without a permit is against the law in Virginia.
"Deer have no predators, so their numbers just keep growing"
This is often repeated but oversimplified. Deer in Virginia face coyotes, bobcats and black bears, especially as fawns, along with hunting and traffic. Populations rise and fall from place to place, and state wildlife agencies manage them closely.
For Dominic, the encounter was simply a good morning outside. For the rest of us, it is a reminder that the best wildlife moments are brief ones, enjoyed from a respectful distance and ended by letting the animal go home.
Sources: WJLA, January 2021: Viral photo has thousands fawning over Virginia boy, baby deer friendship; Stephanie Brown's original Facebook post; Virginia DWR: If you find a fawn, leave it alone; Positive Outlooks / Majestic Animals
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