DFG News Archive

Department of Fish and Game Urges Californians to Leave Wildlife Alone

As warming weather an abundance of wildlife draws millions of Californians to the state’s wonderful wild places, many people, even those with the best intentions, can shatter the serenity of the wilderness by handling young animals in the wild.

March through June are the months when most wildlife give birth to their young, and people should be aware that just because they see a baby animal alone doesn't mean it’s been abandoned. Well-meaning people may try to “help” a young animal by feeding it or picking it up. In doing so, they can short-circuit the foraging or hunting lessons parents are trying to teach their offspring.

“People need to appreciate the viewing opportunity, then just turn and walk away and leave the animal alone,” Department of Fish and Game (DFG) wildlife veterinarian Pam Swift said. “Human interaction is rarely beneficial to wild animals, even though it may be tempting to handle baby animals.”

Every year, DFG receives hundreds of reports of deer fawns picked up by citizens. In most cases there was no evidence that the mother was dead or had abandoned the fawn. Recently, a San Anselmo man picked up an elk calf at Point Reyes National Seashore and fed it cow’s milk, which can cause diarrhea and can lead to death by dehydration.

In most cases, DFG warns people who have taken a baby animal from the wild that the best corrective action is to take the animal back and to place it in exactly the same location, and then leave. According to Pam Swift, “When people find fawns they think are abandoned, they feel sorry for them. They don't realize that when a fawn is a newborn it's not strong enough to go with its mother. This is the process that a doe uses to protect her baby.”

Once a fawn is removed from its mother, it can lose its ability to survive in the wild. The same danger applies to most species, including raccoons, bears, coyotes, and most birds. If the animal can be placed back in the spot where it was found within 24 hours, Swift said the mother may return and retrieve it. If a sick, injured, or orphaned animal can’t be replaced in the wild, it must be turned over to a permitted rehabilitation center to have any chance of surviving in the wild. A statewide list of wildlife care facilities is listed on DFG's website at: www.dfg.ca.gov/wmd/rehab/facilities.html