|
DEC Urges New Yorkers: If You Care, Leave It There
Published: May 10, 2021 at 02:15 p.m.
By: Press Release from NYS DEC (May 07, 2021)
DEC Urges New
Yorkers: If You Care, Leave It There
Public Cautioned
Against Disturbing Fawns and Other Young Wildlife
New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today reminded New Yorkers to appreciate
wildlife from a safe distance and resist the urge to touch or pick up
newborn fawns and other young wildlife. Human contact with wildlife can
carry unintended consequences detrimental to the animals
people intend to help.
"At this
time of year, New Yorkers may encounter young or newborn wild animals in
their yards and mistakenly think they need help to survive," Commissioner
Seggos said. "While a baby rabbit or a
recently fledged bird might appear abandoned, a parent is likely nearby,
trying to remain out of view. Please do not touch a wild baby animal;
instead, enjoy encounters with wildlife from a distance. Remember-if you
care, leave it there."
During spring
months, animal sightings and encounters are common. Young wildlife quickly venture into the world on wobbly legs or are unable to
fly on their own. While most young wildlife learn
survival skills from one or both parents, some receive little or no care.
Often, wild animals stay away from their young, especially when people or
pets are present. For these young animals, the perils of survival are a
natural part of life in the wild. Unfortunately, well-intentioned individuals
may attempt to care for young wild animals they believe to be abandoned or
in need of assistance. These human interactions typically do more harm than
good.
For example,
white-tailed deer fawns are born during late May and early June. Although
fawns can walk shortly after birth, they spend most of their first several
days lying still in tall grass, leaf litter, or sometimes relatively
unconcealed. During this period, a fawn is usually left alone by the adult
female (doe), except when nursing. People occasionally find a lone fawn and
mistakenly assume it has been abandoned, which is rare. If human presence
is detected by the doe, the doe may delay its next visit to nurse. Fawns
should never be picked up. A fawn's best chance to survive is to be raised
by the adult doe. Fawns nurse three to four times
a day, usually for less than 30 minutes at a time, but otherwise the doe
keeps her distance, which helps reduce the chance a predator will follow
her to the fawn. A fawn's protective coloration and ability to remain
motionless help it avoid detection by predators
and people. By the end of its second week of a fawn's life, it begins to
move about and spend more time with the doe. It also begins to eat grass
and leaves. At about 10 weeks of age, fawns are no longer dependent on
milk, although they continue to nurse occasionally into the fall.
DEC also reminds
the public that young wildlife are not pets. Keeping wildlife in captivity
is illegal and harmful to the animal. Wild animals are not well-suited for
life in captivity and may carry diseases that can be transferred to humans.
Anyone who observes wildlife that appear to be sick or behaving abnormally
should contact their DEC
regional wildlife office.
Anyone that
encounters a young wild animal that is obviously injured or orphaned should
call a wildlife
rehabilitator. Wildlife rehabilitators are trained volunteers licensed
by DEC. They are the only people legally allowed to receive and treat
distressed wildlife. They have the experience, expertise, and facilities to
successfully treat and release wild animals.
DEC advises to
keep pets indoors when young animals are present. Many fledgling birds cannot
fly when they first leave the nest and are easy prey for a house cat.
For more information and
answers to frequently asked questions about young wildlife, visit DEC's
website.
|
