GIVE SPRING'S NEWBORN WILDLIFE THE BEST CHANCE-LEAVE THEM WHERE YOU SEE THEM
Each spring newborn wildlife start off with the chance to live their entire lives in the wild. For too many creatures this chance is cut short when well-meaning people "help" nature.
"As caring humans, it is natural to want to rescue a young animal we think is abandoned," said Kurt Cunningham, FWP Education Bureau Chief. Cunningham said in almost every case the newborn animals are not orphaned, but they appear that way by nature's design.
For example, Cunningham said it is common practice for deer and elk to bed their young down and leave them during the day to avoid predation.
"Quite often well meaning people bring critters to FWP that never should have been taken out of the wild," Cunningham said.
What should you do if you discover an apparently abandoned wild animal? Apply common sense first. Where is the animal located? Does it have blood on it or any other signs of injury? Does it look emaciated, have sores or in any other way look ill? Is its breathing normal or seem labored? Are there any signs of struggle?
Next, don't touch. The animal could be sick and may be dangerous to you or your children. Or, it could become very frightened and go into shock.
Contact an FWP official before doing anything, and describe what you have observed.
A newborn creature with no obvious signs of injury or distress is, in most cases, fine with an adult animal somewhere nearby. The most humane and thoughtful choice is to leave the area as quickly and quietly as possible, without disturbing anything.
Even in cases of a young bird falling out of a nest, the bird can be put back in the nest and left there, as the adults are normally nearby.
For public safety, state law prohibits people from having wild animals that may have rabies such as fox, raccoons, skunks and bats. It is also illegal to possess or remove any game animal, game bird, songbird, furbearer or bird of prey from the wild. Fines can be issued for these violations.
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Each spring newborn wildlife start off with the chance to live their entire lives in the wild. For too many creatures this chance is cut short when well-meaning people "help" nature.
"As caring humans, it is natural to want to rescue a young animal we think is abandoned," said Kurt Cunningham, FWP Education Bureau Chief. Cunningham said in almost every case the newborn animals are not orphaned, but they appear that way by nature's design.
For example, Cunningham said it is common practice for deer and elk to bed their young down and leave them during the day to avoid predation.
"Quite often well meaning people bring critters to FWP that never should have been taken out of the wild," Cunningham said.
What should you do if you discover an apparently abandoned wild animal? Apply common sense first. Where is the animal located? Does it have blood on it or any other signs of injury? Does it look emaciated, have sores or in any other way look ill? Is its breathing normal or seem labored? Are there any signs of struggle?
Next, don't touch. The animal could be sick and may be dangerous to you or your children. Or, it could become very frightened and go into shock.
Contact an FWP official before doing anything, and describe what you have observed.
A newborn creature with no obvious signs of injury or distress is, in most cases, fine with an adult animal somewhere nearby. The most humane and thoughtful choice is to leave the area as quickly and quietly as possible, without disturbing anything.
Even in cases of a young bird falling out of a nest, the bird can be put back in the nest and left there, as the adults are normally nearby.
For public safety, state law prohibits people from having wild animals that may have rabies such as fox, raccoons, skunks and bats. It is also illegal to possess or remove any game animal, game bird, songbird, furbearer or bird of prey from the wild. Fines can be issued for these violations.
-fwp-
