Wild Animal Babies––

If You Care, Leave Them There

FAIRFIELD — Insects buzzing, birds chirping, leaves budding, fragrant wildflowers. All of these signs of nature tell us that spring is here. With the spring and summer seasons come baby animals being born in the woods, in the pods, and in the trees in our backyards.

During the spring months, telephones at Connecticut Audubon Centers located around the state are ringing off the hook with concerned citizens who have come upon wild animals’ babies and want to know what to do with the animals that they find.

According to Connecticut Audubon Society, it is important for people to understand that the best caretakers of young animals are their animal parents, not human substitutes. Oftentimes, young animals are less cautious than their older parents and may allow people to come close to them. They are often “rescued” by caring people who, thinking the baby has been orphaned, take them into captivity to try to raise them.

In most cases, good intentions by humans mean certain death for young wild animals. Many situations occur quickly after a young animal has been withdrawn from its parents’ care. Many are unwittingly fed an improper diet, weaken, and die, or quickly become tame (imprinted by human contact) and lose their natural fear of predators that their parents would have taught them.

Later, if they are released back into the wild, they cannot compete with their wild counterparts. As a result, imprinted animals should never be released into the wild and should remain in captivity for the rest of their lives.

So, the question is what should be done if a baby animal is found? First of all, watch the baby for several hours to be certain it is abandoned. If you stay hidden from view, you may be lucky enough to see the parent come back to feed its young.

If you have watched for a couple of hours without any sign of parental activity and the young seems stressed, the names of local wildlife rehabilitators can be obtained from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; the DEP Emergency Dispatch at 860-424-333 (after hours or on weekends); or check the DEP website at dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/wildlife/problem/rehab/rehab.htm.

Wildlife rehabilitators are licensed to care for injured or orphaned animals while taking great care to assist them without causing lasting after affects.

It is important to remember that wildlife is meant to be wild, not turned into pets. Having wildlife in possession without the proper state and federal permits is illegal. If you find a baby animal, remember that in almost every case, it is better to let nature try first.

Founded in 1898, Connecticut Audubon Society is a statewide, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to provided excellence in environmental education, encouraging the conservation of the state’s natural resources and advocating for enlightened public policy on ecological matters.