How many times can it be said? For the love of wildlife, it’s time to listen.
Young wildlife do not need your help: Leave them alone
DURANGO, Colo. — This is the time of year when wild animals give birth to their young and Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides this reminder: do not approach, touch or handle young animals.
“We know that people are trying to be helpful, but the young animals are best cared for by their own parents,” said Renzo DelPiccolo, area wildlife manager in Montrose for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “The best thing people can do is to leave young wildlife alone.”
During spring and early summer, people often see young animals that appear to be alone in the forest, in backyards, on or near trails or along the sides of roads.
“The animals have not been abandoned. Young animals are often left alone to allow the mother to feed, to help them avoid predators and to learn how to live in the wild,” DelPiccolo explained.
Elk and moose calves are also left alone by their mothers. If you see one, move away quickly. Do not move closer or attempt to get the animal to move.
Young birds often fall out of their nests or are pushed out of nests by parents to encourage them to fly.
“If a young bird is on the ground it will quickly learn to fly. So let nature take its course,” DelPiccolo said.
If you see a bird on a hiking trail and you think it might be stepped on accidentally or easily found by a dog, you can pick it up and move it a short distance to cover.
People also need to keep their pets under control. In the woods, dogs acting on their natural instincts can find animals and attack them. The stress of being attacked often is fatal for young animals.
In neighborhoods and backyards cats are adept at finding eggs and young birds. Cats are pets – but they’re also predators.
“Many studies show that cats are damaging the songbird population. Please, don’t let your cat roam free,” DelPiccolo said.
Cat owners should place a small bell on the cat’s collar and the sound will alert small animals.
Food should never be given to wildlife. There is plenty of natural food available for wild animals. Providing food causes animals to bunch up in small areas and that makes them vulnerable to diseases and predators. If they’re provided food they also become habituated to humans and will stay in residential areas instead of natural lands.
People also need to understand that not all newborn animals will survive.
“In the case of all wildlife, we have to understand that mortality is part of the natural cycle,” DelPiccolo said.
If you see a young animal, admire its beauty from a distance, and then move on quietly. CPW also encourages parents to explain to their children not to disturb wildlife.
If you have any questions, call the nearest Colorado Parks and Wildlife office.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 42 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW’s work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
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Mia Anstine is an outdoor writer, licensed outfitter, hunting guide, life coach, keynote speaker, and range safety officer, firearms instructor, and archery instructor. She is the founder of MAC Outdoors and Host of the MAC Outdoors Podcast.
Mia Anstine strives to encourage others to get outside, hunt, fish, shoot, and survive life with others in a positive way.
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