Overview

• Volunteer teams across Germany are using drones with thermal cameras to locate and save fawns before agricultural machinery begins mowing.
• The federal agriculture ministry recently raised funding for wildlife rescue to €2.5 million, enabling the purchase of more drones and expansion of teams.
• In Rheinland-Pfalz, rescue teams are operating almost daily during peak fawn birth season, which research identifies as mid-May.
• Farmers are legally required to conduct pre-mowing wildlife surveys, with fines imposed if fawns are harmed or killed during mowing operations.
• In 2024, approximately 7,000 fawns were rescued nationwide, with numbers expected to rise due to increased public awareness and resources.