Wildlife in spring nesting mode

COLUMBUS – The spring season has arrived, offering many opportunities for Ohioans to help protect young wildlife. Each year, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife offers this simple advice: enjoy wildlife from a distance and leave young animals alone. Wild animals are born to live their lives in the wild, and sometimes good intentions can hurt their chances of survival.

A young wild animal’s best chance for survival is with its mother. Most wildlife taken in by people do not survive, except when handled by specially-trained personnel. In many cases, a young animal collected by a person was not lost or abandoned, but was simply waiting for a parent to return.

Many adult wild animals will leave their young alone while they forage for food or to divert the attention of predators away from their vulnerable young, especially during daylight hours. In the case of white-tailed deer, a doe will hide her young from predators by leaving it alone in a secluded spot, such as a grassy meadow or a flower bed. A hidden fawn has virtually no scent, and when the fawn is left alone, it is difficult for predators to find. The doe is usually nearby and will tend to the fawn at night.

Baby birds that have fallen from their nests are one of the most common wildlife species that are removed from the wild by humans. Contrary to popular belief, human scent will not prevent the parents from returning to care for their young. Individuals should return baby birds back to their nests and walk away so the parents can continue to feed the birds without fear of humans.

Get advice before taking action

If individuals find a young animal that is visibly injured or clearly in severe distress and may need assistance, visit wildohio.gov/staywild before taking any action. Specific information for commonly encountered wildlife species is available to help guide people on how to best help the animal.

State and federal laws protect and regulate wildlife in Ohio, and only specially trained and licensed wildlife rehabilitators, with special permits issued by the Division of Wildlife, may possess and care for native wild animals. These laws are in place for the benefit of humans as well as wild animals.

To further protect young and vulnerable wild animals, keep pets under control so they do not raid nests or injure wild animals. Also, remember to keep pets inoculated against parasites and diseases before venturing out this spring.

Be on the lookout for turtles on the roadway, especially during the months of May and June when turtles are looking for nesting sites. If it is safe, individuals can help a turtle cross the road. Move it in the direction in which it is traveling. However, do not make a wild turtle your pet! Removing turtles from their home can cause stress and make them sick. Understand that wild animals are born to live their lives in the wild – not in a house or cage.

Contact a local wildlife official before taking action. Call 800-WILDLIFE (800-945-3543) or visit wildohio.gov/staywild to connect with the proper individuals and to read about species-specific guidance. Human intervention is always a wild animal’s last hope for survival, never its best hope.

This well-camouflaged American woodcock mother bird – taking care of her nest – was photographed with a telephoto lens from afar last weekend at a spot in Champaign County. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife offers this simple advice: enjoy wildlife from a distance and leave young animals alone. Wild animals are born to live their lives in the wild, and sometimes good intentions can hurt their chances of survival.
https://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2019/05/web1_woodcock-1.jpgThis well-camouflaged American woodcock mother bird – taking care of her nest – was photographed with a telephoto lens from afar last weekend at a spot in Champaign County. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife offers this simple advice: enjoy wildlife from a distance and leave young animals alone. Wild animals are born to live their lives in the wild, and sometimes good intentions can hurt their chances of survival. Brenda Burns | Urbana Daily Citizen
Young animal that seems abandoned usually is not

Submitted story

Leave it alone …

A wild animal that might appear to need human assistance probably does not!

Info from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

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