INDIANA – Wildlife, especially young wildlife, will become more prevalent as spring continues. It may be tempting to cuddle cute, young wildlife when they emerge, but it’s important to continuously assess the situation before intervening.
Follow these tips for interacting with young wildlife this spring:
- Young wildlife’s best chance of survival is with their mother, and your support can often unintentionally harm them if it is not needed. If young wildlife have fallen out of a den or nest, you can return them to it and then leave the area.
- Human scent will not deter a mother from coming back.
- It is common for a mother to leave her young for long periods to forage for herself and her young, so don’t linger near wildlife or their homes too long. Doing this can dissuade a mother from returning or alert predators to the young. Prevent orphan wildlife by scanning your yard before doing yard work and supervising pets when they are outdoors.
If you’re uncertain whether wildlife needs assistance, contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator before picking up wildlife. If they genuinely need help, they must be turned to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator within 24 hours.
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