Leave young wild animals alone – GantNews.com

Whether in their own backyard or high up on a mountain, Pennsylvania residents are almost certain to encounter young wild animals this time of year.

Although some cubs may appear abandoned, this is usually not the case. Their mothers are probably watching over them from somewhere nearby.

So if you encounter young wild animals, be it deer, birds, raccoons or other animals, it is best to leave them alone.

“People with good intentions may step in to help a young animal that appears to be alone, not realizing that its mother is nearby and it doesn’t need help,” says Matthew Schnupp, the Game Commission’s wildlife management manager.

“This is one reason why when encountering young wild animals, the best solution is often to leave them undisturbed in the wild.”

Adults often leave their young while they search for food, but do not stray far and return.

Wild animals also often resort to a natural defense tactic called “hiding.” Young animals remain motionless and “hide” in the cover of their environment while adults divert the attention of potential predators or other intruders from their young.

This strategy is used by deer and sometimes fawns are thought to have been abandoned even though their mothers are nearby.

The Game Commission urges people not to disturb young wild animals or remove wild animals from their natural habitat. Such contact can be harmful to both humans and wildlife.

Wild animals can lose their natural fear of humans, making it difficult or even impossible for them to ever lead a normal life in the wild again.

And when dealing with wild animals, there is always the risk that people will catch diseases or become infected with parasites such as fleas, ticks or lice.

Wild animals that become habituated to humans can also pose a threat to public safety. A few years ago, two people were attacked and seriously injured by a one-year-old stag.

An investigation revealed that a neighboring family had illegally brought the deer into their home and fed it as a fawn, then continued to feed the deer until it attacked.

It is illegal to take or possess wildlife from the wild, and under state law, the penalty for such a violation is up to $1,500 per animal.

Anyone who illegally captures wild animals is prohibited from keeping them under any circumstances. And under an agreement with state health officials, any “high-risk” rabies vector species confiscated after human contact must be euthanized and tested. None of the species can be released back into the wild because the risk of spreading disease is too high.

Animals infected with rabies may not show obvious symptoms but can still transmit the disease.

Although any mammal can transmit rabies, the agreement lists skunks, raccoons, foxes, bats, coyotes and marmots as rabies vector species.

People can become infected with rabies if they are bitten or scratched by the saliva of rabid animals or if the saliva gets into the affected person’s eyes, mouth, or a fresh wound.

Only wildlife rehabilitators who hold a license from the Game Commission are allowed to care for injured or orphaned wild animals in order to later release them back into the wild.

If you encounter wild animals that truly need help, you can find a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators on the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators website at www.pawr.com.

If you cannot find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area, contact the Game Commission by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD or 1-833-PGC-HUNT.