‘Kidnapping wildlife is illegal’: SC wildlife officials say leave lone fawns, bear cubs alone
AT 644 AND IT’S TIME FOR NEWS TO GO. WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, YOUR TRAFFIC AND YOUR WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. WE BEGIN WITH A BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY. THEY ADDRESSED THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE UNIVERSITY’S SPRING COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. ON WEDNESDAY, THE SCHOOL ANNOUNCED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PAMELA ABBOTT WAS NO LONGER BEING CONSIDERED THE SPEAKER FOR GRADUATION ON THURSDAY. THE CHAIRMAN SPOKE ABOUT HOW THE STATE SCHOOL. IT’S IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, I’M NOT ASKED TO GO IN THERE TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO I LIKE OR PEOPLE WHO I DON’T LIKE. AND TO AVOID. I’M ASKED TO GO IN THERE AND TO WORK WITH ANYBODY. I CAN, OF COURSE, TO GIVE US THE VOTES. AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WOULDN’T BE THE SPEAKER, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ABBOTT RESPONDED ON X, SAYING, QUOTE, THE FACT THAT A SPEECH HAD TO BE CANCELED FOR CREDIBLE SAFETY THREATS IS EXACTLY WHY WE CANNOT GIVE UP THE FIGHT TO END INDOCTRINATION AND DEI ON CAMPUSES ONCE AND FOR ALL, END QUOTE. THIS YEAR’S COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER HAS NOT BEEN NAMED. THIS SUNDAY ON FOR THE RECORD, WE’RE TALKING WITH THREE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR. WE INVITED EACH CANDIDATE TO JOIN US FOR ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW. AND THIS SUNDAY, WE’LL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR JERMAINE JOHNSON, MULLINS MCLEOD AND BILLY WEBSTER IN THE FOLLOWING TWO WEEKS, WE’LL BRING YOU OUR INTERVIEWS WITH REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY IS COMING UP ON JUNE 9TH. YOU CAN JOIN US SUNDAY MORNING AT 1130, RIGHT HERE ON WYFF FOR. MEANWHILE, RIGHT NOW, THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION SAYS THE BURN BAN FOR THE REMAINING COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE WILL BE LIFTED IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. COMMISSIONERS SAY THE CHANGE IS THANKS TO A COMBINATION OF RAIN, HUMIDITY AND LACK OF WIND IN THE FORECAST. EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE AGENCY LIFTED THE BURN BAN FOR 12 COUNTIES IN THE UPSTATE. THE BURN BAN IS SET TO EXPIRE THIS MORNING IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES AT 7:00. ALSO TOMORROW IS WILDFIRE COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS DAY, WHICH IS A ONE DAY CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ASSESS AND COMPLETE PROJECTS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF WILDFIRES AROUND THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. EXPERTS SAY MEASURES TAKEN WITHIN 100FT OF A HOME CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON MINIMIZING DAMAGE AND LOSS. THAT’S THE HOME IGNITION ZONE, EXPERTS SAY. EVEN JUST CLEARING THE FIVE FOOT ZONE AROUND A HOUSE CAN HELP. SOME ACTIONABLE ITEMS TO CONSIDER REMOVING FUEL SOURCES FROM RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOME, CLEARING DEAD LEAVES, DEBRIS OR PINE NEEDLES FROM ROOFS AND GUTTERS, KEEPING LAWNS MAINTAIN AND REMOVING ANYTHING STORED UNDERNEATH DECKS AND PORCHES THAT COULD BURN. EXPERTS SAY IT’S ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO SEE HOW YOUR COMMUNITY IS PREPARED. PERHAPS YOU HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE OLDER OR HAVE DISABILITIES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING OUT AND DOING THIS WORK. IF PEOPLE BAND TOGETHER, WE FIND THAT THAT IS A REALLY GOOD. YOU CAN GET THINGS DONE IN A FEW HOURS FOR FOLKS THAT. THAT WOULD REALLY MAKE THEM STRUGGLE. THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION ALSO SAYS TO HAVE A GO BAG OR EMERGENCY KIT READY. EXPERTS SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO BEST PREPARE THEIR HOME SHOULD VISIT WILDFIRE PREP DAY.ORG. VICTORIA. THAT’S SOME GREAT ADVICE BECAUSE WE’RE STILL IN AN EXTREME DROUGHT FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE AREA. AGAIN, THE DROUGHT UPDATES COME OUT ON THURSDAYS AND WE’VE ACTUALLY BEEN UPGRADED NEAR HARTWELL AND ELBERTON TO AN EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT. SO I KNOW WE’VE HAD A GOOD BIT OF RAIN THE LAST FEW DAYS, BUT IT’S JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET, SO WE’LL WELCOME THE RAIN ON SATURDAY AND NEXT WEEK. FOR TODAY THOUGH, WE’RE MAINLY DRY. WE’RE DEFINITELY CLOUDY THOUGH. TEMPERATURES SITTING IN THE UPPER 60S 70 DEGREES FOR MOST AREAS. AND THEN RAIN ARRIVES BY SATURDAY. SO AGAIN, MAINLY DRY FOR TODAY. MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES IN THE FORECAST AS WE SIT BELOW AVERAGE, BUT FAST FORWARDING TOWARDS FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING, WE WATCH A COLD FRONT START TO MOVE IN, STARTING FOR SOUTH OF I-85. WE’LL SEE SOME STEADY RAIN MOVE IN, THEN MOVING NORTHWARD TOWARDS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE REST OF THE UPSTATE. THE HEAVIEST RAIN LOOKS TO STAY IN THE UPSTATE FOR TOMORROW MORNING, AND THIS IS BEFORE DAYBREAK. NOW NOT EVERYONE WILL SEE CONSTANT HEAVY RAIN. IT’S NOT A COMPLETE WASHOUT, BUT THE RAIN IS WELCOME. NOW AS WE GO THROUGH ABOUT 7 A.M. THROUGH SUNRISE, THIS WILL CONTINUE TO DROP SOUTH THROUGH THE LUNCH HOUR. WE DO GET A FEW BREAKS AND DRY TIME FOR TOMORROW AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES THOUGH, WILL DEFINITELY BE CHILLY AND THEN A FEW SHOWERS DO REDEVELOP ALONG THE BOUNDARY BY ABOUT 7 P.M. TOMORROW. AROUND THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. SO I KNOW THE GEORGE STRAIT CONCERT IS GOING ON TOMORROW. COULD SEE QUICK BURSTS OF RAIN. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE MAIN STORIES TOMORROW EVENING WILL DEFINITELY BE THE TEMPERATURES IN THE 50S. WE’LL TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT MY FOUR-DAY PLUS HERE A COUPLE MINUTES. YEAH. HEY, VICTORIA AND HAPPY FRIDAY. LOTS GOING ON ON THE ROADS TODAY. SO WE’RE GOING TO JUMP AROUND HERE. GET TO IT ALL HERE COVERING I-85 RIGHT THERE AT HIGHWAY 14. AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK WITH OUR SKY FOUR CAM. YOU CAN START TO SEE THAT TRAFFIC PILING UP. THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS IS THAT TYPICAL TRAFFIC WE SEE ALONG I-85 AS WE ENTER THAT SEVEN, EIGHT, 9 A.M. HOUR. AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, SOUTHBOUND LANES PRETTY BACKED UP THERE. NORTHBOUND LANES, THOUGH, TEND TO BE NICE AND EASY SAILING. SO HOPEFULLY WE’LL START TO SEE THAT CLEAR UP HERE A LITTLE BIT. KEEP YOU GUYS MOVING AS YOU HEAD THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY. NOW AS WE HEAD INTO GREENVILLE COUNTY, DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ONE LAST TIME. CHURCH STREET BRIDGE WILL BE CLOSING. THIS BEGINS ON SUNDAY. THIS IS GOING TO BE CLOSED FOR A SIX WEEK SPAN. SO DEFINITELY GET USED TO MAKING YOUR WAY AROUND THAT AREA. IF THAT’S PART OF YOUR TYPICAL MORNING COMMUTE. LET’S GET YOU OUT THE DOOR WITH A LOOK AT YOUR TRAVEL TIMES. NICE AND GREEN ALL THROUGHOUT. EVEN WITH THAT 85 SOUTHBOUND SLOWDOWN, THINGS ARE MOVING NORMALLY. AND IN GREENWOOD COUNTY, SC DOT SAYS IT WILL BEGIN REPLACING THE BRIDGE ON CARTER ROAD OVER 96 CREEK ON MONDAY. CARTER ROAD WILL BE OPEN TO LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY, EXCEPT AT THE BRIDGE SITE ITSELF. THE BRIDGE IS EXPECTED TO REOPEN IN THE SUMMER OF 2027, AND THE FASTEST NIGHT IN THE UPSTATE IS HAPPENING TODAY IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY. SPARTANBURG CRITERIUM KICKS OFF AT 315 RACES, HAPPENING UNTIL 820. IT’S CLOSED CIRCUIT, MULTI LAP CYCLING RACE TAKING PLACE IN DOWNTOWN, MUCH LIKE THE GREENVILLE CYCLING CLASSIC. THE BIGGEST FAIR IN THE UPSTATE IS BACK. IT’S THE GREAT ANDERSON COUNTY FAIR. ORGANIZERS TELL US THERE ARE THREE NEW SHOWS THIS YEAR, AND NEW FOODS TO TRY ISABELLE MARKET. JOINING US LIVE FROM THERE WITH WHAT WE CAN EXPECT ISABELLE. YEAH. HEY ERIN AND DESTINY FOR NEW FOODS THIS YEAR, YOU CAN EXPECT TATER TOTS AND CHOCOLATE, BUT THERE’S ALSO A COUPLE OF NEW SHOWS, INCLUDING A BUBBLE SHOW, CARNIVAL SHOW, WHICH IS PROBABLY RIGHT BACK THERE. THAT’S WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE’S ALSO A MAGIC SHOW AS WELL. AND SOME OF YOUR FAN FAVORITES. THERE’S A PETTING ZOO. THERE’S OF COURSE, ALL THE RIDES YOU SEE RIGHT AROUND ME, INCLUDING THIS MANTIS ONE RIGHT THERE OR SOME SAW RIDES. BUT LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT HERE, THIS GIVES ME A FLASHBACK TO MY OLD DAYS GOING TO THE FAIR THAT I THINK I’VE BEEN ON THAT EXACT ONE, ACTUALLY. BUT WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE FAIR MANAGER AND HE TOLD ME ABOUT WHY HE’S SO EXCITED TO BE BACK THIS YEAR. WE HAD A ROUGH FAIR LAST YEAR WITH WEATHER. YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO DEAL WITH WEATHER. THAT’S PART OF IT AS YOU GO. WE HAD SIX DAYS OUT OF THE 11 DAYS OF RAIN LAST YEAR, SO WE’RE READY. WE DIDN’T FEEL LIKE WE GOT OUR FULL POTENTIAL LAST YEAR, SO WE’RE TRYING TO COME BACK. IF YOU’RE ALSO READY TO COME ON BACK TO THE ANDERSON COUNTY FAIR, YOU CAN GO TO THEIR WEBSITE. GREAT. ANDERSON COUNTY FAIR.COM. AND AS A REMINDER, YOU CAN BUY ONE NORMAL PRICE, ONE FLAT RATE PRICE FOR UNLIMITED RIDES RIGHT UP THERE AS WELL. BUT FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE IN ANDERSON COUNTY BEFORE THE FAIR OPENS, ISABELLE MARAK WYFF NEWS FOR ISABELLE. THANK YOU. LET THE RACES BEGIN. THE ANNUAL DUCK DERBY IS RETURNING TO THE REEDY RIVER TOMORROW. THOUSANDS OF DUCKS WILL FLOAT THEIR WAY DOWN THE FALLS AT 2:30 P.M. IT’S A FUN COMMUNITY EVENT AND A CHANCE TO RAISE MONEY FOR NONPROFITS IN OUR AREA. THE WAY IT WORKS, PEOPLE ADOPT THEIR RUBBER DUCKS BY PAYING A FEE. THE RUBBER DUCKS ARE THEN DROPPED INTO THE REEDY AND THE RACE BEGINS. THE FIRST ONE WHO REACHES THE FINISH LINE WINS A YEAR’S WORTH OF GROCERIES FROM PUBLIX. TH
‘Kidnapping wildlife is illegal’: SC wildlife officials say leave lone fawns, bear cubs alone
Updated: 8:39 AM EDT May 1, 2026
South Carolina wildlife officials are urging residents to leave young fawns alone this spring, reminding the public that kidnapping wildlife from the wild is illegal.The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources says a fawn found lying alone is usually not orphaned or abandoned. In the first weeks of life, mother deer often leave their young bedded down in a safe spot while they feed and rest nearby. The doe typically returns only a few times each day to nurse and groom the fawn, a strategy that helps protect it from predators.Authorities warn that although it may be tempting to rescue a seemingly helpless animal, removing a fawn from the wild can do more harm than good. Deer raised in captivity often have poor long-term survival rates, and fawns that become used to people can grow into dangerous or nuisance animals, sometimes leading to their death.Wildlife officials are asking anyone who spots a fawn alone in the coming months to leave it where it is and allow its mother to return. The same is true for baby bears. SCDNR says they are often left alone but their parents are nearby and will return. They ask if you find a bear cub, do not pick it up. Instead, mark its location and report it to wildlife biologists by calling 1-800-922-5431.
GREENVILLE, S.C. —
South Carolina wildlife officials are urging residents to leave young fawns alone this spring, reminding the public that kidnapping wildlife from the wild is illegal.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources says a fawn found lying alone is usually not orphaned or abandoned. In the first weeks of life, mother deer often leave their young bedded down in a safe spot while they feed and rest nearby. The doe typically returns only a few times each day to nurse and groom the fawn, a strategy that helps protect it from predators.
Authorities warn that although it may be tempting to rescue a seemingly helpless animal, removing a fawn from the wild can do more harm than good. Deer raised in captivity often have poor long-term survival rates, and fawns that become used to people can grow into dangerous or nuisance animals, sometimes leading to their death.
Wildlife officials are asking anyone who spots a fawn alone in the coming months to leave it where it is and allow its mother to return.
The same is true for baby bears. SCDNR says they are often left alone but their parents are nearby and will return.
They ask if you find a bear cub, do not pick it up. Instead, mark its location and report it to wildlife biologists by calling 1-800-922-5431.