A Palisades Park neighborhood has come together to care for a baby deer that was orphaned after its mother was struck by a car.
For the past few weeks, the baby deer has not strayed far from Bergen Boulevard where its mother was killed.
"We see this little baby fawn that's legs were still wobbly who has been orphaned," says neighbor Janine Valverde. "This poor baby is looking for a mother."
Valverde has befriended the deer, and says she just can't turn her back on the animal. She says that the fawn keeps venturing closer and closer to traffic.
"At first it was only in the woods, then it started coming out here in the parking lot," she says. "Then it started [coming] randomly into the middle of the street."
Other neighbors have started coming out to see the deer and protect it. One neighbor says that he took a personal day from work so that he could guide the deer away from the area.
Valverde says that she and the other neighbors have called the City Council, police department and the humane society in an effort to get help for the deer, but haven't had much luck.
A spokesperson for Bergen County Humane tells News 12 New Jersey that the agency cannot move wildlife. It is up to the state Fish and Wildlife Department to do that.
The spokesperson says that there is a natural preserve close to where the fawn is located. The agency says that neighbors should stop feeding the fawn and it may eventually make its way to the preserve.
"I just want someone to reach out and take it to a wildlife preserve center or somewhere it can be safe," says Valverde.
The neighborhood says it hopes the baby deer is adopted by a local zoo or park.