'If you care, leave them there': Officials remind, leave young wildlife alone

WLOS ^ | 4-14-22 | Brittany Whitehead

[SJackson]

FILE IMAGE - Now that the 2022 spring season has arrived, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission officials are cautioning N.C. residents to leave young wildlife, like this baby bunny, alone if they happen upon them. Other common wild offspring that people enjoying the outdoors might come into contact with include fawns and young songbirds. Wildlife officials say, "if you care, leave them there." (Photo credit: WLOS staff) Facebook Share Icon Twitter Share Icon Email Share Icon WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, N.C. (WLOS) — As the 2022 spring season has sprung and the sight of baby animals is ramping up across Western North Carolina, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is taking the time to remind people that when it comes to the wild young, "If you care, leave them there."

As the weather warms and people return to gardening, yardwork and general playing in their yards this spring, chances are they will stumble upon young bunnies, fawns and fledgling birds which they mistake to be abandoned.

People's natural inclination is to somehow help when they think the young offspring are in danger, but officials warn that intervening like this and removing the animal from where it is found would likely do more harm than good.

“Wild parents can’t hire a babysitter, so most young animals spend a lot of time on their own well before they can fend for themselves,” said Falyn Owens, extension biologist at the N.C. Wildlife Commission. “When the mother returns, sometimes many hours later, she expects to find her young where she left them.”

In the majority of cases, one or both parents is a short distance away searching for food and will only return when the coast is clear. Wild parents almost never abandon their young, even if they detect human scent.

Owens said for those who truly feel the animal is in need of help, the best thing to do is to leave it alone -- making sure it is placed back where it was found -- and contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.

Leaving young wildlife alone is also the law.

“Taking most wild animals out of the wild and into your possession is illegal,” Owens said. “The chances that a young wild animal will survive in human care are slim at best. Even those that live long enough to be released won’t have developed the skills to survive on their own.”

Owens also stressed the importance of never feeding young wildlife, which can lead to irreversible harm -- and is often fatal for the animal.

“When in doubt, contact a professional before you do anything,” she advises. “Each spring, wildlife rehabilitators take in a lot of young that are malnourished, sick, or injured from well-meaning people trying to provide care.”

Rabbits Newborn rabbits (kits) spend their first few weeks hiding in plain sight, in shallow holes tucked among clumps of thick grass, under shrubs, or in the middle of open lawns. Rabbit nests can be hard to spot, often resembling a small patch of dead grass. Female rabbits (or does) actively avoid their nests, only visiting once or twice a day for a few minutes, to avoid attracting the attention of hungry predators.

“We hear from concerned people every spring who say they’ve found an abandoned nest of bunnies, when in fact the kits are just fine and quietly waiting for the doe to return,” Owens said. “If they appear to be healthy and unharmed, the best thing you can do is to cover up the nest and walk away. The mother won’t return until well after you have left the area.”

Fawns Newborn deer also spend nearly all their time hiding for the first few weeks of their life. After nursing, the doe gives a signal and her fawns instinctively split up to find a quiet place to lay down and stay put. They will usually stay curled up for several hours while the doe ventures away to feed. Fawns rely on a dappled coat and no scent, which make it difficult for predators to find them.

If you find a fawn that is calm and appears uninjured, leave it be and check on it the next day. If it is still there and bleating loudly, appears thin, injured or has visible diarrhea, contact a licensed fawn rehabilitator for advice.

“If a fawn has already been moved from where it was found but only a little time has passed, return it immediately,” Owens said. “A doe will usually try to find her missing fawn for about 48 hours before she gives up. After 48 hours have passed, or the fawn has been given any food, contact a fawn rehabilitator as soon as possible.”

Songbirds Knowing the difference between a nestling and a fledgling can help you make the right decision if you see a young bird on the ground. Nestlings don’t have their feathers yet and can’t survive outside of their nest for long. Fledglings have their feathers and are able to walk, hop, or fly short distances; they might appear helpless, but have already left the nest are being cared for by the parents — typically at a distance.

“If you find a nestling on the ground, return it to the nest as quickly as possible, if you’re able to find it,” Owens said. “If the entire nest has fallen, you can place it back in the tree, or even construct a makeshift nest.”

Fledglings, however, should be left alone in most cases. They are busy with the important tasks of learning to fly and survive on their own. If a fledgling isn’t obviously injured or in any immediate danger, leave them to it. Like human toddlers, young birds need tons of practice to gain the muscles and coordination to become graceful adults. Keeping cats inside and dogs on leash are the best way to assure these young birds make it through this vulnerable learning stage.

[SJackson]

Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me to be on or off . And ping me is you see articles of interest.

[higgmeister]

If it's in your own backyard and you feed them until they are no longer afraid of you and eat out of your hand while sitting on your lap, that would be my S-in-l.   AKA the squirrel whisperer.

[larrytown]

Good advice, especially regarding rabbits. Far too many people don’t know to just leave them be.

[gitmo]

That’s good advice.

[slouper]

I once nursed a baby sparrow back to health. I was mowing the lawn and noticed it in the tall grass, no feathers yet. In a few weeks it was flying around the back patio and had imprinted on me and would land on my hand. Shortly thereafter the neighbors cat strolled in and had a snack.

[oldasrocks]

Now I think all the tree huggers should run out and find a bear cub to hug

[eeriegeno]

Same logic applies to illegal aliens

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I KNEW I should’ve left my ex where I found him in the underbrush! Made the mistake of feeding him, then he imprinted on me, and then I was stuck with that parasitic loser for decades, LOL!

As a kid I found a baby Robin in one of our window wells. Amazingly, my Mom let me keep him. We called the Zoo and they said to feed him meat baby foot watered down, with an eye dropper.

Again, amazingly, my Mom let me keep him in the unfinished part of our basement where he could fly around and poop on everything - while demanding to be fed every 10 minutes or so for weeks on end, LOL!

He would ride on my bike handlebars until the day he was all feathered out and saw a cute Lady Robin and that was the end of that.

Mom still calls me every Spring to tell me that ‘Marvin’ is on her lawn and has come back to visit. :)