May 21, 2025
Contact: Caitie O’Neill, 989-459-8918
How can you help baby wildlife this spring? Leave them alone
Baby wildlife make springtime in Michigan feel like a fairy tale, but the best way to be a friend to wild animals is to keep them wild. That means leaving them outdoors where they have the best chance for survival.
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, wildlife are well-adapted to live in the wild, and baby animals will be at much greater risk of dying if removed from their natural habitats.
“Many wild animals hide their young for safety. These babies are not abandoned; they have been hidden by their mother until she returns,” said DNR Wildlife communications representative Rachel Lincoln. “So, if you find a baby animal, leave it be.”
Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife. Unless a person is properly licensed, it is illegal to possess a live, wild animal in Michigan.
Here’s a look at what you can expect to see outdoors as young animals get acclimated to their world.
Birds
 Birds build their nests in all kinds of places, so if you find one near your home, be a good neighbor: Leave it alone and keep pets and children away. Bird nests and eggs are protected under federal law. It is illegal to touch, move or possess any part of the nest or eggs without the proper permit.
Baby birds sometimes fall from their nests while learning to fly, but their parents will continue to feed and care for them even when they are on the ground. A baby bird on its own is not abandoned; its parents will be back. If you move a baby bird, the parents may be unable to find it. You can help by keeping dogs, cats and kids away from baby birds.
Mallards often build nests in landscaping and gardens. If you find one, take it as a compliment to your cozy backyard habitat. A hen mallard will lay her eggs over several days and then start to incubate them once they have all been laid. They’ll hatch in about a month, and mom will immediately lead her ducklings to the nearest water.
Canada geese are highly adaptable and will also build their nests near houses, parks or other human development. They are attracted to short grass where they can easily find bugs to eat. Canada geese are protective parents and aggressively guard their nests and goslings during the breeding season. People should try to avoid nesting areas, but if that’s not possible, you can carry an umbrella and gently scare the birds away by opening and closing it.
Fawns
White-tailed deer are excellent mothers, and they start out by hiding their fawns in out-of-the-way places for the first few weeks after birth. Fawns are well-camouflaged by their spots, and they have very little scent, so the mother stays away for up to eight hours at a time to keep the fawn hidden from predators.
If you find a fawn alone, do not touch it, and leave the area quickly. If you leave your scent behind, it may attract predators.
Fawns on their own are rarely abandoned. The mother deer will return to her fawns when she feels it is safe. If people or dogs are nearby, she will stay away longer. The best way you can help a fawn survive is to leave it alone.
Bunnies
Like mother deer, mother rabbits also leave their nests unattended to avoid attracting predators. Bunnies on their own are rarely abandoned. The mother will be back when she feels safe to return.
Bunnies are well-adapted to survive in the wild. You can help by keeping cats, dogs, children and other predators away. |
Enjoy from a distance
Encountering baby wildlife can be a magical experience – just remember that keeping your distance is the best way to keep baby animals safe. You can use binoculars or the zoom function of a camera to enjoy the view while keeping wildlife wild.
Other steps you can take to help baby wildlife include growing beneficial native plants near your home, refraining from using harmful pesticides and teaching children how to be good neighbors to wildlife.
Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
- Hidden fawn: A spotted white-tailed fawn is curled up in a grassy nest, hidden by its mother for safekeeping. If you find a fawn like this, leave the area quickly so you don’t leave your scent and expose the fawn to predators.
- Mourning dove on nest: A mourning dove sits on a nest in a crabapple tree.
|
