Every year, particularly during the spring and summer, hundreds of young wild animals are unnecessarily picked up by the general public and referred to game wardens or wildlife rehabilitators for treatment and rearing. The most commonly referred animals are baby birds and deer fawns.
Anecdotal data suggest that the situation for baby birds is similar or worse.
These data indicate that such unnecessary referrals to rehabilitators are not only detrimental to the wildlife, but also disruptive and costly to wildlife rehabilitators during the time of year when they most need to concentrate limited resources on truly orphaned or injured wildlife. The following information should help you to avoid handling or picking up baby animals unnecessarily, handle such animals in a way to minimize stress or trauma, and maximize the animal's chances of being successfully returned to the wild. Please share this information with other people in your community. Remember, a young animal's best chance for survival is with its natural parents who, better than anyone else, can ensure that it retains all of its natural faculties and behaviors for survival in the wild. Because of the danger of disease transmission, any suspected orphan should be kept away from domestic pets.