Game and Fish urges public to leave baby wildlife alone

Spring in Arizona brings rising temperatures and longer days, which means more sightings of newborn wildlife. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is urging the public to leave them alone.

Young wildlife, like baby birds and young rabbits, found in a yard or field are rarely “abandoned,” the department said in a press release. Often, there’s a perceived predator, and once they leave the area, AZGFD said one or both parents will return and continue to care for their young.

Baby birds are the most common wildlife encountered by the public and removed from the wild, according to the press release. When discovered, any eggs of ground-nesting birds, like quail, should always be left in place.

No specific incident prompted the warning, but John Trierweiler, AZGFD spokesperson, said the “mishandling of Arizona wildlife” is an issue every spring.

“While the intention is well-meaning, the ‘rescue’ often results in a newborn or juvenile animal being taken from its parents, which are likely just out foraging for food and water,” Stacey Sekscienski, Arizona Game and Fish Department Wildlife Education program manager, said in a press release. “This can often leave a parent searching for its young and wildlife raised by humans is less likely to survive if released back into the wild.”

Once they’ve been removed from the wild, some species of baby animals, such as elk calves or deer fawns, may even have to be euthanized because they cannot be released back into the wild due to disease concerns, the release stated.

Ultimately, the AZGFD said there is “almost never an occasion when you should remove a baby wild animal from its natural environment.”

If you encounter an animal that is clearly sick or injured with wounds or broken bones; is unresponsive or lethargic; has been attacked by a cat or dog; or there is strong evidence that the mother is dead, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator listed on the department’s website.

“It’s reassuring to know our Arizona community is passionate about caring for wild animals, but most often, the best thing anyone can do is just to leave baby wildlife alone,” Sekscienski said.