Hands off! I'm just hiding!

Spring is indeed a time of regeneration, a time when creatures large and small insure the survival of their species by bearing young.

We who are fortunate to live in West Virgina, cheek by jowl with nature, often come upon young animals that appear to have been abandoned. We often feel inclined to try to help. While there’s nothing wrong with feeling that way, plenty can go wrong if we act on our inclinations.

In short, we can end up killing the critters we seek to save. Case in point: Here in West Virginia, white-tailed deer often leave their newborn fawns unattended. The fawns, hunkered down amid grass or weeds, become almost invisible to would-be predators.

All too often, though, we do-gooding humans come along and say, “Gee, a fawn! Poor little thing must have been abandoned by its mom.” We pick the fawn up, take it home with us, decide it’s hungry and feed it a can of evaporated milk. Sounds humane, right?

Wrong. Chances are we’ve just killed the poor little creature. Evaporated milk, cow’s milk and other dairy products wreak havoc on a fawn’s digestive system. Bill Vanscoy, the former superintendent of the West Virginia Wildlife Center, used to complain about it all the time. “They feed these fawns evaporated milk, the fawns come down with the screaming scours [diarrhea], and then when the fawns get in really bad shape they send them to us to ’save,’” Vanscoy grumped.

What’s the better approach? Unless you are 100 percent certain a young animal has been orphaned — and that means you’ve found mama’s carcass — leave it alone!

Every year, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources issues a news release urging folks to leave young wildlife alone. Here’s this year’s edition:

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources advises people to leave all young wildlife alone. “The spring season is the time of year when the woods and fields of West Virginia are full of new life,” said Gene Thorn, wildlife biologist at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center in Upshur County. “People have a great opportunity to view and enjoy young wildlife during this season, but it is especially important for the public to understand the need to avoid touching or disturbing these wild animals.”

Attempts to rescue or rehabilitate young wildlife are often counter-productive.  Picking up or getting too close to wildlife greatly increases the chance of harm to the animal and/or the persons involved in this unwise practice. By touching young animals or close approach, humans leave scent that may attract predators. Wildlife viewing is an enjoyable and perfectly acceptable activity; however, the DNR recommends that this pastime be conducted from a safe distance and with the aid of binoculars.

“In addition to being detrimental to the welfare of young animals, handling wildlife can expose humans to various wildlife-associated diseases, parasites and other health-related risks,” said Thorn.  “Rabies, roundworms and other parasites such as lice and ticks can be transmitted to humans through the improper handling of wildlife.”

The Wildlife Center and DNR district offices receive numerous calls each year concerning young wildlife, especially fawn deer that have been picked up by well-meaning residents.  It is important to note that in almost every case, these young animals have not been abandoned. In fact, the offspring are often hidden as the adult searches for food, and this separation can last for a few hours or all day. Humans are poor substitute parents for wild animals, as young wildlife require special diets and learn survival skills from their parents.  Removing the young wildlife from its natural environment almost certainly leads to death of the animal.

Many people often mistake a bedded fawn, with no mother in sight, as abandoned.  Hiding the fawn and leaving it while the doe searches for food is an important survival tactic. The spotted pattern and coloration of fawns and their lack of scent afford protection to these young animals and make them difficult for predators to detect. If a predator happens to approach close to a fawn, the young deer will normally hold very still until the threat passes. If discovered by a predator, the fawn will wait until the very last moment before fleeing to safety. Fawns should always be left undisturbed and never be picked up by people.

As a final caution, remember that state laws and regulations prohibit the possession of wildlife without a permit. Under any circumstances, when you pick up a young animal in the wild you have taken it into your possession. The fines for illegal possession of a fawn deer, black bear cub, baby raccoon, squirrel or any other species taken or possessed during the closed season, range from $20 up to a maximum of $1,000 and/or up to 100 days in jail.

“We want everyone to enjoy wildlife in West Virginia,” said Thorn.  “For your own health and safety and to protect the state’s wildlife, remember these wild animals should be left alone and allowed to stay wild.”