NDGF fawn deer abandone orphaned
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department offers a simple message to the well-intentioned who want to rescue what appear to be orphaned baby animals this time of year: don’t touch them. Whether it is a young fawn, duckling, cottontail rabbit or a songbird, it is better to leave them alone.
“Often, young animals are not abandoned or deserted, and the mother is probably nearby,” says Patrick Isaacson, department conservation supervisor, “Secluding their young is a strategy to protect them from predators.”
Anytime a young wild animal has human contact, its chances of survival decrease significantly. Wild animals taken into captivity and later returned to the wild will struggle to survive without possessing learned survival skills.
The only time a baby animal should be picked up is if it is in an unnatural setting, such as a young songbird found on a doorstep. In that case, the young bird can be moved to the closest suitable habitat.
Citizens should also steer clear of adult wildlife, such as deer or moose that might wander into urban areas. Crowding stresses animals and can lead to potentially dangerous situations.
In addition, motorists are reminded to watch for deer along roadways. During the next several weeks, young animals are dispersing from home ranges, and with deer more active during this time, the potential for car‑deer collisions increases.
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