Don't touch baby wildlife

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds Montanans to leave newborn fawns and other infant wildlife where they see them. This time of year fawns and other infant wildlife are plentiful. 

“What appears to be an orphaned newborn usually is not,” said Lisa Rhodin, FWP wildlife center coordinator. “Deer and elk naturally leave their young alone for extended periods of time to protect them from predators while the adults feed.”  

“If you care, leave them there, whether it is a fawn under a tree in a neighbor’s yard or a bunny under a bush in the mountains,” Rhodin said.

To protect Montana’s deer and elk from the impending threat of Chronic Wasting Disease, FWP no longer accepts, holds, or rehabilitates deer, moose, or elk.  A deer, moose or elk delivered to FWP must be returned to the site where it was found. If it can’t be returned to the wild, it will be euthanized.

Rhodin said this precaution is necessary because CWD, a fatal neurological disease that affects deer and elk, is spreading in the United States and Canada. It has yet to be documented in wild populations in Montana, but CWD is found in nearby states and provinces. Wildlife officials are concerned an animal with an unidentified case of CWD could be released from a holding center and spread the disease back into the wild.

FWP also urges dog owners to keep their pets leashed or close to their side this spring and summer to prevent them from chasing, injuring or stressing young wildlife.