The farmer was afraid to enter the tall grass. A drone revealed what was hiding in the field

Sindre Andersen took over the farm in Sigdal in January 2026. He had previously heard about cases where fawns died during mowing. Such incidents had also happened on this farm, according to NRK. The grass in the 25-hectare field was tall, so manually checking the entire area was impossible for the farmer.

The evening before mowing, Andersen contacted the Sigdal and Eggedal Hunters and Anglers Association. The local group quickly asked the Sokna Hunters and Anglers Association for support. Help arrived very early. Drone pilot Max Nensén was on site as early as 4 a.m. with a second operator and volunteers.

The drones systematically scanned the field. Nensén explained that they work best when the air and ground are cool, as the infrared camera can more easily detect temperature differences. Five heat signals appeared on the screen. Each one indicated a fawn hidden in the grass.

Roe deer females often leave their young in tall grass to protect them from predators. The fawns' instinct tells them to lie still. Andersen told NRK that even when people came very close, the young did not run away.

The farmer admitted that without checking the field, mowing would have been done 'with his heart in his throat.' He added that previous drives by car or quad along the edge of the field did not guarantee that the animals would leave. Volunteers approached the fawns calmly and then moved them to a safe place before the machinery started working.

Fawns are usually placed in cardboard boxes during mowing or released toward the forest. This time, however, they were returning to the field, so Andersen built airy crates from pallets for them. In the evening, after mowing was finished, the farmer opened the crates, and the roe deer mother was already waiting at the edge of the forest, calling for her young.