Nature provides wildlife with the best options for survival and a better quality of life.Įvery year wild animals are unnecessarily picked up by well-intentioned people and brought to wildlife rehabilitators or referred to game wardens. In almost all cases, it’s best to leave wildlife alone and let them take care of their own injuries. Often what humans perceive as an injury can be normal behavior, or the animal can heal on its own without human intervention. Repeated visits to a fawn can draw the attention of predators, and could discourage the mother from returning. During this time, the fawn is protected from predators by its camouflaged coat and its lack of scent. Until the fawn is strong enough to keep up and come along, an adult doe may hide her fawn in the forest floor leaves, returning two or three times a day to nurse.

The nutrient profile of a mother’s milk enables a doe to leave her fawn for many hours while she feeds on her own to sustain the demands of nursing. When you encounter specific species, here are some additional tips to keep in mind:įawns: It is always best to leave fawns alone, and you should never attempt to feed them under any circumstances. When well-intentioned people unnecessarily pick-up wildlife, it puts undue strain on rehabilitators who need to concentrate limited resources on truly orphaned or injured wildlife. Young wildlife have specific nutritional requirements, so even temporary care to what you think is orphaned can be harmful to the animal. It’s against the law to possess wildlife without the proper state and federal permits, and for good reason: wild animals and birds do not make good pets in fact, direct contact with wildlife can expose you to a variety of diseases, and can lead to an animal being euthanized in order to test for rabies or other harmful diseases. These animals sometimes end up wandering into populated areas, being attacked by domestic animals, being hit by cars, or even injuring people. Young wildlife cared for by humans often end up attached to people, with natural little fear. Animals that are taken by people and later released into the wild are at a disadvantage, as they lack the skills needed to find natural food and cover. Well-meaning people who take young animals out of the wild are actually harming the animals' chances of becoming normal adults. Picking up young wildlife might seem like the right thing to do but in most cases, they have a much better chance at survival when not disrupted by humans or pets. The best thing you can do if you come across a young animal or bird is leave it alone and if you have pets, put them inside or on a leash. The mother-young bond in mammals and birds is very strong and most likely, mom is just out searching for food and will be back soon. If you’re out walking in a field, woodland area, or even your backyard, and you happen upon a baby fawn, moose calf, fox, raccoon, or other young wildling all by itself, you may worry that it has been abandoned by its mother. If you encounter wildlife anywhere in the Maine outdoors, remember this motto: If you care, leave them there. Wildlife is very active during the late spring and summer – just like us! Direct contact with wildlife can also expose you (or your family and pets) to a variety of diseases, and it can lead to an animal being euthanized in order to test for rabies. Picking up young wildlife might seem like the right thing to do but in most cases, wildlife has a much better chance at survival when not disrupted by humans. Wild animals and birds do not make good pets, and it’s against the law to possess them without the proper state and federal permits. Rulemaking Proposals Open to Public Comment.

Wiel life rescue birds