Rehabilitation specialist cares for fawns rescued from Wimberley flood

People and animals in Wimberley have been trying to get back to life as they knew it before the Memorial Day weekend flood. For more than a dozen fawns it has been a bumpy ride.

It's been more than a decade since Tammy Kelley has had so many babies in her house.

"I raised three boys and so raising twins definitely has prepared me for mixing up all of these bottles and stuff," said Kelley.

For the last three weeks, preparing baby bottles has been part of her everyday routine because Kelley has four new very hungry baby girls in her home. Kelley is caring for four-week-old Dolly, Reba, Tricia and Lucy.

"These four have been in my care since day one, since they've been rescued," said Kelley.

When the Blanco River climbed more than 40 feet on Memorial Day weekend, it impacted hundreds of lives.

"In regards to the Wimberley floods, we definitely saw at least a dozen plus babies that we brought in as well as other wildlife; dogs, cats, birds, geese, some raccoons," said Kelley.

The four fawns at Kelley's home held on for dear life and were discovered just in time.

"As they were cleaning up the debris looking for their valuables all a sudden they lift up a bunch of sticks and debris and there's a baby fawn," Kelley said.

Kelley works with the Drift Inn Wildlife Sanctuary in Wimberley and is a licensed rehabilitation specialist with Texas Parks and Wildlife.

"These guys are doing very well and, as you can see, they are just running around enjoying their play time," Kelley said.

After the Wimberley flood, she said they had several calls from people who found baby deer.

"We were really having to just remind people, 'We've got to kind of keep an eye on them, we don't want to kidnap them from mom,'" Kelley said.

The four majestic creatures and about a dozen others were believed to be displaced by the swollen Blanco River. Now, they have become a Wimberley success story. And although the new babies have grown dear to her heart, Kelley is getting ready to say goodbye.

"Around August will be an expected date to be evaluating them and see if they're ready for release," Kelley said.

Or maybe just so long for now...

"I'll, you know, get to enjoy them out there doing their deer thing, growing up and being momma deer one day," Kelley said.

If you see a baby deer, wildlife specialists ask you not to move it unless it is in immediate danger. Mother deer will often leave their babies for several hours while they search for food. If you're concerned call Texas Parks and Wildlife so that they can help determine if the fawn needs to be cared for.

It is illegal to house a wild animal in your home.