PHOENIX (KVOA) – The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is urging residents to keep their distance from baby wildlife as spring brings warmer weather.
Officials emphasize that while the instinct to help seemingly abandoned animals like baby birds and rabbits is strong, it's best to leave them alone. “A parent is likely nearby and will return once humans have left the area,” the AZGFD advises.
Removing young animals from the wild can have dire consequences, especially for species like elk calves and deer fawns that may face euthanasia if they cannot be returned to their natural habitat. Zoos and wildlife sanctuaries often lack the space to accommodate them.
However, if an animal appears sick, injured, or if there's evidence the parent is dead, AZGFD recommends contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Most young wildlife found in yards or fields are not abandoned; parents typically return once humans or pets leave the area.
Baby birds are frequently mistaken for being in need of help. Great horned owlets, for example, may look like adults due to their downy plumage but should be left undisturbed. This advice extends to the eggs of ground-nesting birds like quail as well.
