My son-in-law showed good judgment in a wildlife encounter he had a couple of weeks ago. Driving along U.S. 50 in southern Indiana, he noticed a doe making a frantic dash across the busy four lanes just outside of Aurora.

Looking to see if there was perhaps another deer ready to bolt across the road, he noticed movement in the grass, revealing a newly born fawn. On shaky legs, the tiny newborn hesitated to follow its mother through the traffic.

Seeing the predicament, he pulled over, stopped and walked back down the highway to the tiny fawn. On the other side of the highway, the little one’s mother looked on as he reached down and carefully picked the youngster up. With the fawn cradled in his arms, he waited for a break in the traffic and carried it to the other side of the road.

Leaning over, he put it on the side of the fence where Mama was waiting in the distance. As he walked carefully back across the highway, he could see mother and baby were quickly reunited.
He did the right thing, and knew the only instance for taking the fawn home would be if it was found alongside its dead mother. His rescue only involved getting the little one across the busy highway.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds us that by “rescuing” an injured or apparently abandoned baby wild animal, you may doing the opposite of what you seek to accomplish, and may be breaking the law.

Each spring, thousands of animals are born in the wild. With the spread of suburban areas into their natural habitats, young animals are increasingly born near humans, who are more apt to discover them without an adult animal nearby. When this happens, a few reminders are especially useful.

While, occasionally, some baby animals may be orphaned or abandoned, it’s not always true. Picking up a baby animal not orphaned or abandoned is not only unnecessary, it can be bad for the animal. It’s also illegal if you don’t have the proper permit or take the animal straight to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Rescued animals pose safety and health risks for humans. They may look helpless, cute and cuddly, but 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.

“The apparent lack of an adult does not mean a young animal is alone,” said Linnea Petercheff, operations staff specialist for the DNR’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. “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.

Place some grass across the top of a rabbit nest found with young ones in it. If the items are disturbed and moved later, the mother has probably returned. And, if so, leave the young ones alone. The adult will return after you leave the area. (As an example, rabbits often come to the nest to feed their young only a couple of times a day.)

The best way to make sure a fawn appearing to be alone is orphaned is to wait and check it periodically. Before taking any action, remember the following:

•If the fawn is not injured, the mother is likely nearby

•Leave the fawn alone and its mother will probably come and get it. Deer can take better care of their young than a human can.

•Human scent on the fawn will not prevent the mother from taking care of it

•If you do not see any deer nearby, have someone watch the fawn without being seen by the mother. In most cases, the mother will come back and get the fawn after you leave the area.

If you believe the mother has not returned to a nest or a deer has not come back to feed her fawn, or you know the mother is no longer alive, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, listed online at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5492.htm

Remember, state laws prohibit keeping protected wild animals without a permit. Most species of wildlife are protected by law and cannot be kept as pets. Federal laws also prohibit 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:

•Check the DNR website above
•Call the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife in Indianapolis, (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.

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 for Jack Spaulding may contact him by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.