A Spring Awakening
As the days get longer and the air warms, the natural world begins to buzz with signs of spring. One seasonal staple is the appearance of baby animals – new to the world, they often cause concern for well-meaning folks who find them in their yards, along roadsides, or in green spaces. So, what should you do if you find a baby animal?
Leave it alone! Unless the animal is clearly injured or showing signs of distress, don’t touch it. Oftentimes, the parents know where the baby is and will return to check on it. Relocating the baby could cause it to become truly orphaned, or you could accidentally injure the animal (or it could injure you!).
If you think the baby has been orphaned, observe it for a period of time. Rabbits only return to the nest twice a day – usually early in the morning and evening – and they are very stealthy. Deer will leave fawns in one spot all day while they forage, then return to and move the baby in the evening. A baby animal’s best chance at survival is with their parent(s) in the wild – so jumping to action, while wellintended, is not always the right answer.
If it is clearly injured or distressed, call a local wildlife rehabilitator. The Macon County Conservation District is not permitted to rehabilitate wildlife, and we are not equipped to care for injured, sick, or abandoned animals. Organizations like the Illinois Raptor Center and the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic can provide advice and assistance when needed. To find a full list of wildlife rehabilitators in Illinois, visit this link.
To learn more about spring babies and how to help (and when not to), visit the Orphaned Wildlife page from the Illinois Department of Natural Resource’s Wildlife Illinois website here.
by Alysia Callison
