Spring is here! Which means animals begin to have babies: including wildlife. Wild animals raise their babies differently than your dog or cat may.
If you find a baby animal in the woods, your backyard, in the park, etc, take a step back. Just because you can’t see the mother, doesn’t mean she isn’t there watching you. Please, leave baby animals alone, UNLESS they are obviously injured or you have found the mother deceased.
Does, rabbits, birds, and cow elk will leave their newborns alone for hours on end, checking on them periodically throughout the day. This actually helps protect the babies from predators as it doesn’t draw attention to them. Once the young are old enough, then they will follow their mothers.
When baby birds are learning how to fly, they do end up on the ground more times than not. This is normal! The parent birds are nearby watching. If you happen to find a baby bird on the ground, and you are worried your cat/dog may harm them, put them up in a nearby tree and take your pet inside.
It is okay to pick up baby wildlife and place them out of harm’s way (i.e. put a bird in the tree, set a baby rabbit back near its nest). The parents will come back and take care of them! It is important, however, to not remove the animal from its environment first!
While we all want to help, taking baby wildlife out of their natural environment can actually harm them! Wild animals raised by humans are more likely to not be released back into the wild. And if they are able to be released, many of them lack the necessary skills to survive. The stress of being raised by humans can actually cause the baby animal to die in some cases.
If you do find an injured, orphaned animal, call your local veterinarian’s office or Fish and Game Department.
Please leave baby wildlife in the wild!
Some helpful links:
http://www.ci.lancaster.ma.us/Pages/LancasterMA_News/016F9223-000F8513
http://www.pgspca.org/content/index.php?pid=91
http://articles.petoskeynews.com/2011-04-22/fawns_29465121