ODFW: If You Care, Leave Baby Wildlife in the Wild

Photo Courtesy: wdfw.wa.gov

(SALEM) - State wildlife officials today reminded Oregonians that the best way to care about baby wildlife is to leave the animals in the wild.

Deer, elk, birds, seals and other animals often leave their young while they forage for food. Unfortunately, each year well-meaning people who encounter baby animals temporarily away from their parents mistake the babies for orphans and remove them from the wild.

Picking up baby wildlife stresses both the baby and the mother, who is often nearby and returns later looking for her young. A doe, for example, will continue looking and calling for her fawn for up to two days. State wildlife officials say that, unless the death of the adult animal is witnessed first-hand, no baby animal should be presumed orphaned.

Many well-intentioned people who `rescue" baby animals are unable to provide an appropriate diet for the animal, so the animals can suffer malnourishment and even death. The animals that do live miss out on the chance to learn important skills, such as finding food and escaping from predators, so often don't survive when reintroduced into the wild.

When encountering baby wildlife, it is better to live by the motto, `If you care, leave them there." Officials also offered the following tips for some of the more frequently `rescued" Oregon wildlife species.

Baby birds: Nestlings (baby birds not fully feathered) can be gently and quickly returned to the nest. If the nest is out of reach, place the bird on an elevated branch or fence, out of the reach of children and pets. Leave the area so the parents can return.

Deer: Fawns often are left for several hours at a time, but are well adapted to their surroundings. Unless you see the parent killed, it is safe to presume the doe is nearby. In fact, your presence could be what is keeping the doe away.

Raccoons and squirrels: Animal rehabilitation facilities in suburban and urban areas get overloaded with squirrels and raccoons each spring. Raccoons are a major transmitter of diseases dangerous to people and pets, including a virus that can cause permanent blindness in humans. Both species are highly adaptive animals, and many babies that appear too young to make it on their own are capable of surviving, especially in suburban and urban environments where food is plentiful and predators are few.

Seal pups: Like deer, seals often leave their young for hours at a time while foraging. People should maintain at least 100 yards between themselves and seal pups, and remember to keep their dogs on leashes. Female seals will not return to their pups if people are in the vicinity.

Individuals who see an animal that clearly is in distress, is being disturbed by people or pets, or is in a situation that endangers the animal (such as lying near or in a road), should call the local ODFW or Oregon State Police office, or their local wildlife rehabilitation center.