Last week, I witnessed an event registering at least a 9.5 on a “cute scale” of 10. I was pulling up to a secondary construction road when a large groundhog started to cross the road in front of me. I stopped the truck as I noticed the groundhog’s hesitancy to proceed.

She may have been hesitant, but the four baby groundhogs with her started across the road with great abandon. Jumping and darting ahead, they were quickly herded back into place with a bark from their mother. The four little ones couldn’t have been much longer than five inches and looked like exact miniatures of the mother.

With the little ones holding close, she escorted the litter across the road and back to the burrow.

Yes, it is springtime – and baby wildlife is everywhere. Every spring, I usually get several calls from well meaning individuals who have discovered what they have determined is an abandoned wildlife baby.

My general advice is to leave the animal alone. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be quick to tell you the cute little baby critter probably has a mother very close by. By “rescuing” an injured or apparently abandoned baby wild animal, you may do the opposite of what you seek to accomplish, and break the law.

With the spread of suburban areas into 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 pertinent:

•While some baby animals may be orphaned or abandoned, it’s not always true.
•Picking up a baby animal not orphaned or abandoned is usually not necessary; 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 wildlife can pose safety and health risks for humans. Wildlife babies may look helpless, cute and cuddly, but they can bite or scratch people attempting 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 orphaned,” said Linnea Petercheff, operations staff specialist for the DNR Division of Fish & 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 to have young in it.
If the items are later disturbed, the mother has probably returned. In such a situation, leave the young animal 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 is truly 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 at www.wildlife.in.gov

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

•Check the DNR website at www.wildlife.in.gov and click on “Wildlife Rehabilitation”

•Call the DNR Division of Fish & 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. Be forewarned, if you involve a private veterinarian and take the animal in for treatment or examination, be prepared to pick up the bill.

Volunteer for invasive species program

Indiana Dunes State Park will be conducting an early detection program for invasive plant species this summer, and volunteers are needed to help. Anyone interested should attend a volunteer open house at the Indiana Dunes Nature Center today, June 1, at 6 p.m. (CDT) to learn more.

The program, funded by the Lake Michigan Coastal Program, will seek to identify, quantify and map invasive plants found within the park.
“For decades, invasive plants have been one of the largest concerns to park managers,” said Brad Bumgardner, park interpreter. “This concern is not going away. Detecting, identifying and mapping these species gives us more information on the best way to address these issues.”

Volunteers will learn to identify high-priority invasive plant species and learn how to use the next generation of GPS technology to map invasive species. Volunteers can schedule their volunteer work to coincide with other activities, such as a hike in the park.

Indiana Dunes Nature Center is located at the north end of U.S. Route 49 in Chesterton. Follow construction detours via Waverly Road to enter the park. Gate entrance fees are waived for volunteers who attend the open house June 1.

For more information about the program, call 219-926-1390.

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.