[ODFW-News] Don't Touch Young Critters

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Western Oregon Contact: Meghan Collins (541) 440-3353
Eastern Oregon Contact: Mary Hoverson (541) 963-2138	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  
	
For Immediate Release	Tuesday, May 27, 2003

Don't Touch Young Critters

PORTLAND - Leave baby wildlife alone. That's the message Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists want to give to the public. 

"Every spring, we get a lot of calls from people who have picked up what they think is an abandoned young critter, particularly fawns," said Roseburg District Wildlife Biologist Tod Lum. "Unless someone actually sees the mother dead, it's better to leave the deer alone. Usually, the mom is off feeding and will return to her young later in the day."

Biologists say picking up baby wildlife stresses both the baby and the mother, who returns later looking for her young. A doe, for example, will continue looking and calling for her fawn for up to two days.

"If the animal is safe, the best thing to do is leave it there," said La Grande District Wildlife Biologist Leonard Erickson. "For perching birds, setting them on the nearest branch off the ground can help them avoid ground predators like domestic cats."

According to ODFW wildlife biologists, when a well-meaning person picks up a young animal or bird, it is being taken away from its mother, which is its greatest chance for survival. If someone knows for sure that the mother has died, that person should call a local ODFW office or wildlife rehabilitation organization. 

A similar situation occurs along the Oregon Coast when well-meaning people pick up seemingly abandoned seal pups. Young seals' mothers often leave their pups on the beach while they feed in the ocean. Beach-goers are asked to remain at least 100 feet from seal pups and to keep dogs leashed to avoid harassing or harming young seals.

"Even with the best intentions, people make poor foster parents for wildlife, said Erickson. "Every effort to unite young wildlife with their mothers should be taken."

If someone sees an animal that clearly is in distress, is being disturbed by people or pets, or is in a situation that endangers the animal (such as lying near or in a road), individuals should call the local ODFW or Oregon State Police office.

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