Mama deer runs toward crying newborn in viral TikTok

Have you ever found yourself in a one-on-one showdown with a wild animal who wants to rescue your baby? No? Well, one mom was in that exact predicament this week—and lucky for us, she captured the entire thing on video and shared it on TikTok.

Mom Hanna is seen sitting outside on her deck with her newborn son, Charlie, and she’s doing what we all do during random intervals throughout the day: recording her cute baby for no reason.

Suddenly, he starts fussing (as newborns are wont to do) and that little tiny baby mewling sound captured the attention of a nearby deer.

The deer was very likely a mama deer, judging by her urgent reaction and instinct to “rescue” the source of the crying. Honestly, who can blame her?

“Oh, nope, nope, nope!” Hanna is heard saying in the video as she scoops up her baby. “This is my baby. This one’s my baby. It’s not yours. Hi, mama.”

Addressing little Charlie, she says, “She thinks you’re her baby.”

It just goes to show that those intense motherhood instincts can kick anytime, anywhere—no matter the species!

The comments on the video are great, too:

“She was ready to name that baby Tarzan and raise it as her own,” one person commented.

Another one said, “Deers are protective, probably thought it was a smaller animal in distress. They’ll fight to protect rabbits among others. They’re kind-hearted.”

“The fact that the baby understood the assignment and stopped crying,” another person wrote.

“So you’re telling me I can use a baby as a deer call?” someone else said.

We love to see nature in action, folks. Because when it comes to mamas (both deer and human), you just don’t mess with ’em. Period.