Often, particularly in spring, concerned people pick up animals that they think are orphaned. More than 75 percent of such orphans “rescued” every spring should have been left alone. Most wild animals are dedicated parents and will not abandon their young, but they do leave them alone for long periods of time while looking for food. Additionally, many behaviors that people may view as abnormal actually are not in wildlife, and people may do much more harm than good by attempting to catch them for rehabilitation. Unless one of these guidelines applies, leave wildlife alone.

For example, a few days ago, Animal Services Officer Howes was dispatched out to Fox Haven Lane to respond to a report of a fawn left by itself (see photo). Officer Howes found the cute little fawn tucked away in a garden. Although it looked helpless, it was decided to leave the fawn in the garden overnight. By the morning the fawn had been spirited away by its parent and was nowhere to be found. It’s not uncommon for fawns to be left alone while their parent forages for food, so it’s important to remember that if you see an unattended fawn, it’s best to leave it be, as mom is probably close by!