Fawn dies after eating toxic plant

A mule deer fawn died of yew toxicity after ingesting a large amount of Japanese yew.

Conservation Officer Andrew Sorensen received a call about the deceased mule deer fawn on the outskirts of Rexburg on Dec. 19.

The fawn belonged to a group of about 25 mule deer that hang out on the south end of town every winter.

Japanese yew is a non-native plant that is often used an ornamental shrub for landscaping. It is often sold by local nurseries and chosen by homeowners due to the plants ability to stay green and lush all year. Japanese yew is highly toxic when ingested by domestic livestock or by wildlife such as deer, elk, pronghorn and moose. Eating only a few ounces of the plant may result in the death of the animal.

“This is the first death I have seen this year caused by the plant, and I hope it does not become a pattern,” says Sorensen.

Multiple wildlife deaths have been attributed to the Japanese yew over the past few years in Idaho including a moose calf Sorensen collected in the same area last year.

Fish and Game is encouraging homeowners living on the edge of towns or in rural areas to consider alternative plants when landscaping and to replace Japanese yew plants if they have them.