OCR Text |
Show Look, But Don t Touch Each year the Division of Wildlife Resources receives calls from people who pick up baby an: imals and birds, take them home and wonder what to do with them. Unfortunately, the outcome is usually tragic. The DWR doesn't have the facilities faci-lities or personnel to raise young wildlife. Zoos typically have more local wildlife specimens than they can handle. As a result, the baby animals almost always die. The best thing to do with any wildlife baby is "Leave It Alone!" Don't touch it - Don't cuddle it -And don't take it home. Wildlife babies are almost never orphaned, even when they appear to be alone. The parent is aware of the baby's location and needs, but stays away most of the time to protect the baby's location. Even if you don't carry off the baby animal, your touch could result re-sult in tragedy. Human scent remains re-mains on the baby, which may cause abandonment by the parent, or lead a hungry predator to its next meal. Human handling is in itself stressful, stress-ful, to the baby animal, and its struggling to escape could result in injury. Baby animals make springtime extra special, but enjoy them at a distance. Your well-intended affection af-fection or concern could cost that youngster its life. |