Over the next couple weeks, female deer will begin having fawns. It is normal in Yosemite Valley for deer to give birth in human populated areas, such as next to a building. The mother deer will closely guard a newborn during the first 10 days of its life, when the fawn remains mostly still. The mother will often leave the fawn bedded down in a safe location while she forages for food elsewhere. This is normal behavior, the fawn is not abandoned, and the mother will usually return after a short while.
If you see a fawn, please do not approach it, do not touch it, and do not pick it up!!! The mother may not be visible, but she is in the area. Please keep your distance, as a mother deer can become aggressive in protecting her young.