HARRISBURG, Pa. — Whether in their backyards or up in the mountains, Pennsylvania residents are almost guaranteed to encounter young wildlife this time of year.
Although some young animals appear abandoned, most are not. Perhaps his mother is watching from somewhere nearby.
So if you come across any young wildlife, such as deer, birds, raccoons or other animals, it's best to leave them alone.
“Well-intentioned people may try to help a young animal that appears to be alone, unaware that its mother is nearby and doesn't need help,” said Game Commission Wildlife Management Officer. said one Matthew Schnapp. “This is one reason why when you encounter a young wild animal, leaving it in the wild is usually the best solution.”
Adult animals often leave their young while searching for food, but do not go far and then return. Wild animals also often rely on a natural defense tactic called the “hide-hider strategy”, whereby young animals remain motionless and “hide” in the shadows around them while adults draw the attention of potential predators or other intruders away from their young.
Deer employ this strategy and fawns can be deemed abandoned when in fact their mother is nearby.
The Game Commission is urging people not to disturb young wild animals or remove them from their natural environments.
Such contact can be harmful to both humans and wildlife. Wild animals can lose their natural fear of humans, making it difficult or even impossible for them to live normally in the wild again. Also, whenever you work with wild animals, there is always a risk of human exposure to diseases and parasites such as fleas, ticks, and lice.
Wild animals that become habituated to humans can also pose a risk to public safety. A few years ago, a yearling buck attacked two people, severely injuring them. An investigation revealed that a neighboring family had illegally brought the deer into their home, fed it as a fawn, and continued to feed it until just before the attack.
It is illegal to take or possess any wildlife from the wild. Under state law, penalties for such violations include fines of up to $1,500 per animal.
Under no circumstances will anyone who illegally captures wild animals be allowed to keep the animals, and under an agreement with state health officials, “high-risk” rabies vectors seized after contact with humans will be euthanized. It must be inspected. They cannot be released back into the wild as the risk of spreading disease is too high.
Animals infected with rabies may not show obvious symptoms but can still transmit the disease. Although any mammal can carry rabies, the rabies vectors identified in the agreement are skunks, raccoons, foxes, bats, coyotes, and groundhogs.
Rabies can be transmitted through saliva if a rabid animal bites or scratches you, or if its saliva gets into your eyes, mouth or a fresh wound.
Only wildlife rehabilitators licensed by the Game Commission are permitted to care for injured or orphaned wild animals with the intent of ultimately releasing them into the wild. For those who find a wild animal that truly needs help, a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the Pennsylvania Wildlife Rehabilitators Association's website (www.pawr.com).
If you cannot find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area, please call the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD or 1-833-PGC-HUNT.
