Responding to injured or infant wildlife

release from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. As a public service,

we pass it on to you. Hey, you never know ...

"Rescuing"

an injured or apparently abandoned baby wild animal may do the opposite of what

you seek to accomplish, and break the law.

This time of year,

thousands of animals are born in the wild. With the spread of suburban areas

into their natural habitats, young animals are increasingly born near humans,

who are more apt to discover them without an adult animal nearby. When this

happens, a few reminders are especially pertinent.

While some baby animals

may be orphaned or abandoned, that's not always true.

Picking up a baby animal

that is not orphaned or abandoned is not only usually unnecessary, but also can

be bad for the animal. It's also illegal if you don't have the proper permit or

take the animal straight to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Such animals also pose

safety and health risks for humans. They may look helpless, cute and cuddly,

but they can bite or scratch people who attempt to handle them. Some wild

animals carry parasites and infectious diseases, some of which can be

transmitted to humans.

"The apparent lack

of an adult does not mean a young animal is orphaned," said Linnea

Petercheff, operations staff specialist for the DNR Division of Fish &

Wildlife. "Adults often leave their young alone, safe in nests or dens,

while they forage for food, but rarely do they abandon their young."

If a bird has fallen out

of a nest, it is OK to gently return it to the nest. The best way to make sure

an animal is truly orphaned is to wait and check it periodically. If you are

unsure, place some strings or sticks across the nest. Place some grass across

the top of a rabbit nest that is found with young in it.

If such items are later

disturbed, the mother has probably returned. In such a situation, leave the

young animal alone. The adult will return after you leave the area. As an

example, rabbits often come to the nest to feed their young only a couple of

times a day.

The best way to make sure

that a fawn that appears to be alone is truly orphaned is to wait and check it

periodically. Before taking any action, remember the following:

–Call a licensed wild animal rehabilitator; find the list

by going to the DNR website, wildlife.IN.gov

and click on "Wildlife Rehabilitation."

–Leave the fawn alone and its mother will probably come

and get it. Deer can take better care of their young than a human can.

–Human scent on the fawn will not prevent the mother from

taking care of it.

–If you do not see any deer nearby, have someone watch the

fawn without being seen by the mother. In most cases, the mother will come back

and get the fawn after you leave the area.

If you believe the mother

has not returned to a nest or a deer has not come back to feed her fawn, or you

know that the mother is no longer alive, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator

listed at: dnr.IN.gov/fishwild/5492.htm.

Remember, state laws

prohibit keeping protected wild animals without a permit. Most species of

wildlife are protected by law and cannot be kept as a pet. Federal laws also

prohibit possession of migratory birds, including songbirds, raptors and

waterfowl. It is even illegal to treat wild animals for sickness or injury

without a permit.

Wild animal

rehabilitation permits are issued to qualified individuals who take in sick,

injured, or orphaned wild animals with the intent of releasing them back into

the wild.

If you encounter an

injured, truly abandoned or sick wild animal, do one of the following for

assistance:

–Call a licensed wild animal rehabilitator; find the list

by going to the DNR website,wildlife.IN.gov

and click on "Wildlife Rehabilitation."

–Call the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife in

Indianapolis, (317) 232-4080.

–Call your DNR law enforcement district headquarters or

regional headquarters; contact information is at: dnr.IN.gov/lawenfor/2755.htm.

–Call a licensed veterinarian for immediate assistance

with a sick or severely injured wild animal.