Texas Parks & Wildlife, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife all teamed up to remind the public to leave baby animals alone.
All four of these states are abundant with wildlife and you’re likely to run into some critters whether you’re in your backyard, hiking, biking, or camping. Wild animals in general should be watched from a distance and never approached or fed, but what if they’re sick, orphaned, or injured?
You should still leave the animal alone, even if you think it needs help. In most cases wildlife has a much better chance at survival when not disrupted by humans, so if you care, leave it there. Direct contact with wild animals can also expose you to diseases and might lead to the animal being euthanized to test for rabies.
If you encounter wildlife that you truly believe is in need of help, you can contact your local wildlife service for assistance. Just leave the animals alone, even if you think they’re young and abandoned.
