Don’t kidnap young wildlife: leave wildlife wild, May 24

ODFW release – SALEM, Ore.— Young wildlife are rarely orphaned, so leave them where you find them. The advice you are likely to hear if you bring a young wild animal home is “put it back,” and you might get a warning or citation from Oregon State Police, too. Because of the damage it can do to both wildlife and people, removing an animal from the wild is illegal under Oregon wildlife laws. (ORS 497.308 – No person shall remove from its natural habitat or acquire and hold in captivity any live wildlife in violation of the wildlife laws.) Unfortunately, every year around this time, ODFW offices, licensed wildlife rehabilitators, and even Oregon State Police are flooded with calls from people who picked up a deer fawn, elk calf, fledgling bird learning to fly, or other young animal they assumed was orphaned because it was alone. When removed from the wild, the animal misses the chance to learn where to seek cover, what to eat and how to escape from predators and other dangers. Here’s how to help instead: Keep pets and other domestic animals away to help wildlife this time of year. Pets will stress wildlife, especially if there are young wildlife or fledgling birds in your yard. Keep dogs on a leash when recreating outside. If you are certain an animal is orphaned because you saw its parent die, or you see an animal that is injured, please call ODFW, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, or OSP for advice.