INDIANA – As the snow melts, we’ll start seeing signs of new life. While it’s tempting to interact with cute, cuddly critters, it’s best if we leave them alone and let their mothers do their jobs. It’s a wonderful thing to care about wildlife, but sometimes human interaction can cause long-term harm.
Keep these things in mind when you come across wildlife:
Observe wildlife from a distance. Keep yourselves and pets away from nests, dens, and baby wildlife.
Remember that it is normal for babies to be left alone while their mother looks for food. Baby animals will typically remain still and quiet while waiting for their mom. This does not necessarily mean the baby is orphaned.
Do not feed the animal.
If you see a baby animal that has fallen out of a nest or den, you can put it back and quickly leave the area. Hovering near the baby can discourage a mother from coming back, and your scent can attract predators.
Before doing yard work, check the area to make sure you are avoiding any nests or dens.
Determine if a baby needs help before intervening: Is there obvious injury? Did you observe the death of the animal’s mother? Is the animal covered in feces or insects? These are signs an animal needs assistance.
If a baby animal truly needs to be rescued, it MUST be turned over to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator within 24 hours. Find a list of our permitted rehabilitators on our website. Contact rehabilitators BEFORE helping animals.
