Leave wild baby animals where they belong – wild

Spring is baby animal season, and it’s also a great time to remember the importance of keeping wildlife wild. During the warmer months of spring and summer, the frequency of human-wildlife encounters increases, especially those involving young wild animals.

While most of these encounters are harmless, there are times when well-intentioned people interfere in wildlife situations, because they incorrectly assume a young animal is orphaned.

Mother animals often leave their young for hours at a time while they look for food, and some animals keep their distance from their young, except at meal time, to avoid transferring scent that could attract predators.

If someone comes across a baby wild animal and they don’t see the mother nearby, chances are that mom and baby are doing exactly what they should, to stay healthy and safe. Before handling or bringing a baby wild animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, check the DNR’s website for tips to tell if a wild animal truly needs help.

To keep all wildlife wild and healthy, it is also important to be aware of the effects wildlife feeding can have on humans and animals. Feeding can cause harm to wildlife, such as waterfowl, deer or raccoons.

Human food can lead to diseases in wildlife. Most human food does not meet nutritional needs of wildlife and can cause serious health problems. Animals have specialized diets and because human food is nutrient deficient for wildlife, animals may become malnourished or die when fed human food.

Human food can cause damage to animals. Animals do not distinguish packaging from food and the packaging may be consumed resulting in abrasions, sickness and even death.

Animals that lose their fear of humans, can also become a nuisance.