A WILDLIFE protection officer has happily sacrificed her love life to become a surrogate mum to orphaned fawns.

Alex Morris has the unique task of hand-rearing baby deer at the Scottish SPCA’s national wildlife rescue centre in Fishcross.

She speaks to the timid animals to gain their trust before grooming, feeding and ultimately letting them go back into the wild like their own mothers would.

Alex told the Advertiser, “They are my sole responsibility. I’ve got five fawns to take care of now. I do think of them as my babies, but that’s what I love about my job - the bond you get and being able to give them the second chance they otherwise wouldn’t have.” The 26-year-old Tillicoultry lass has always loved animals. She studied zoology at university before landing a job at the SSPCA centre over two years ago.

Although demanding, she has no regrets putting her work commitments ahead of her personal life.

She said, “I’m single and have no kids – just the fawns. I wouldn’t say my work has affected my relationships, but I don’t have much time to date.” Alex’s eldest fawn, a little male roe deer named Grogan, was orphaned at just three days old and rescued from the side of the M90 near Rosyth after his mother was hit by a car.

She said, “He wouldn’t have survived on his own - he was far too young to be eating solid food.

“He was very timid when he came in. I sat with him for five hours that night, gently talking to him and stroking him like his mother would groom him.

“I told him in a soft voice that I was sorry he lost his mum and assured him everything was going to be okay and I was going to help him.

“He was lying in a tight ball – I could see the fear in his eyes. Eventually, he lifted his head and acknowledged me.

“When he looked directly at me, I knew I’d broken through and he started to relax. And when I groomed him, he started licking my hand.

“I try to mimic what the mother would do so he thinks of me as his mum and not a human.

“I stroke him all over in the action his mother’s tongue would make, encourage him to feed and stimulate him to go to the toilet like she would. It’s a full-time role and a very delicate situation.

“If I sent someone else in to groom or feed him, it might put him off so I have to be here for every feed.

“But it’s an amazing feeling because we have such a strong bond. When I go into the paddock and shout for him and he comes running, it’s quite incredible.” At first Grogan would call out when scared if Alex was out of sight. Now he’s getting bigger, more independent, and will soon be sent back into the wild once fully weaned.

Alex added, “It can be an emotional drain as some don’t make it and that’s the heartbreaking part. Once they’re released it’s sad not seeing them every day, but that’s what you’re working towards. You’re proud to see them at that stage.”