Leave young animals alone, state agency says

As newborn wildlife begin to appear, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is urging the public not to pick up young animals, such as fawns or baby birds, even if they appear sick or in need of help.

At the height of the season, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks can receive several calls a day about fawns that might appear abandoned but are not necessarily so, a news release states.

“Generally, the mom is quite close, just not as visible,” Tonya Chilton-Radandt, wildlife biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Libby, states in the news release.

Because of concerns about diseases like chronic wasting disease, the agency does not accept deer and will not take them to a rehabilitation facility.

“Even if folks bring an animal to us, we will likely ask them to take it back where they found it”, Chilton-Radandt said. If a fawn is brought to an agency office and cannot be returned to where it was found, it will be euthanized, the news release states.

The agency also urges people to leave young birds alone.

“Once young birds are mobile, they spend more time exploring the areas outside their nest and can fall from their perches,” the news release states. “However, this is natural. The young birds can use this time outside of the nest to gain strength and learn where and how to find food. The parents often continue to care for their young even on the ground, so it is best to leave them there and accessible to the adults.”

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks notes that it is illegal to possess and care for live animals taken from the wild, and that dog owners can be issued a citation for allowing dogs to harass, chase, or kill wildlife.