Every spring, I always get several calls from well-meaning individuals who have “found” an orphaned baby deer, a nest of baby rabbits, a litter of baby raccoons or an abandoned coyote pup.
My advice: Don’t pick them up and don’t move them, because the “orphaned” baby’s mother is probably watching from a safe distance.

It’s the time of year when thousands of animals are born in the wild. With the spread of suburban areas into those natural habitats, many people find baby wild animals appearing to be alone. Thinking the animals are orphaned, hurt, abandoned or lost, well-meaning individuals sometimes “rescue” them.

Rescuing the orphans is usually unnecessary and bad for the animal. And, it’s illegal if you don’t have the proper permit, plus it poses health risks for humans.

With more suburban areas being built close to animals’ natural areas, young animals are increasingly born near humans and discovered without an adult animal nearby, so a few reminders are especially pertinent.

“The apparent lack of an adult does not mean a young animal is alone,” said Linnea Petercheff, operations staff specialist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish and Wildlife division. “Adults often leave their young alone, safe in nests or dens while they forage for food, but rarely do they abandon their young.”

If a bird has fallen out of a nest, it is okay to gently return it to the nest. The best way to make sure an animal is truly orphaned is to wait and check it periodically. If you are unsure, place some strings or sticks across the nest.

If such items are later disturbed, the mother has returned. In such a situation, leave the young animal alone. The adult will return after you leave the area.

Personal safety is another consideration. While such animals may look helpless, cute and cuddly, they can bite or scratch people who attempt to handle them. Some wild animals carry parasites and infectious diseases, some of which can be transmitted to humans.
Remember, state laws prohibit owning protected wild animals without a permit. Federal laws also prohibit the possession of migratory birds, including songbirds, raptors and waterfowl. It is even illegal to treat wild animals for sickness or injury without a permit.

Wild animal rehabilitation permits are issued to qualified individuals who take in sick, injured, or orphaned wild animals with the intent of releasing them back into the wild. If you encounter an injured, truly abandoned or sick wild animal, do one of the following for assistance:

•Call the DNR/USDA Wildlife Information Hotline at 800-893-4116 during business hours

•Check the DNR/USDA-Wildlife Services website at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild and click on “Wildlife Conflicts Hotline” or go to www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2351.htm

•Call the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife in Indianapolis at 317-232-4080

•Call your DNR law enforcement district headquarters or regional headquarters; contact information is at www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/2755.htm

•Call a licensed veterinarian for immediate assistance with a sick or severely injured wild animal (please note that you will most likely have to pay for the veterinarian’s service)

‘Becoming an Outdoors Woman’ workshop

Women with an interest in learning outdoors skills, take note: Registration is underway for the Indiana DNR’s 2009 “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” (BOW) workshop.

BOW offers women a relaxed, noncompetitive environment conducive for learning outdoor skills in a workshop designed just for women. The workshop will be May 1-3 at Ross Camp in West Lafayette. The cost for the workshop, including four classes, lodging and meals, is $175.

The workshop is limited to 150 women. Registration is already half full for the popular program.

Register online at www.bow.IN.gov or by calling Danielle Shrake at 317-232-4194.

Lieber SRA & ACE host 4th annual Trash Bash
Lieber S.R.A. and the Army Corp of Engineers will be hosting trash cleanup around Cagles Mill Lake on April 18. If you are interested in joining the employees to promote the program, please plan to meet at the Lieber S.R.A. service area at 10 a.m. Trash bags will be furnished and volunteers are urged to dress weather-appropriate.
The program is designed to promote keeping the Cagles Mill Lake area clean and beautiful. All individuals and groups are welcome. The program will be cancelled in case of rain.

Friends of Cagles Mill Lake will celebrate Arbor Day with a tree giveaway in conjunction with this fourth annual Trash Bash. The program will be 10 a.m.-noon at the hilltop shelter house. A limit of six trees per family is suggested.

Flowering dogwood, redbud and tulip trees will be given away while supplies last. Donations are welcome. All proceeds will be used to help with Lieber S.R.A./Cagles Mill Lake.

Spring Wildflower Day at Turkey Run State Park

Enjoy the spring sunshine on May 25, during Turkey Run’s Spring Wildflower Day. Visitors to the park will have the opportunity to stop by the Nature Center at 10 a.m. to help feed the park’s birds and squirrels, and watch them through oversize windows as they eat.
At 10:30 a.m., enjoy a hands-on program about medicinal uses of wildflowers while viewing gorgeous slides and live plants. At 11 a.m. hear suggestions for turning your backyard into optimal wildlife habitat, using native flowers and shrubs. At 2 p.m., explore the spring nighttime constellations and planets during a 40-minute planetarium program. Finally, take a stroll through the woods with a naturalist at 3 p.m. to see what’s blooming.

A native plant sale, sponsored by The Friends of Turkey Run and Shades State Parks, will take place all day. Don’t miss the chance to pick up some native wildflowers as well as some hothouse favorites. All proceeds benefit the park.

The programs are free and begin at the nature center. Park entrance fees are in effect, at $5 for an Indiana car and $7 per nonresident car.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.