Thanks For The Hand But No Thanks
Sunday, April 28, 2013 @ 4:27 AM
Prince George, B.C. – It’s Spring, and that means fawning and calving season is well underway in north-central BC.
And, while you may run into situations in which you think the best thing to do is help what appears to be an abandoned animal, wildlife officials are asking you to refrain from doing so. Provincial biologists stress that newborn deer, elk or moose should not be touched or moved when encountered. They may appear abandoned, but usually they have only been left alone temporarily by their mother, who will return. Steeping in to “rescue” the animal is rarely necessary and will likely do more harm than good.
It’s normal for deer, elk and other ungulates to leave their young alone for long periods, returning a couple of times a day to nurse and relying on the newborn’s lack of scent to protect them from predators. Removing what appears to be an abandoned animal means it will be orphaned. And, while some rehabilitation facilities can successfully rear newborns, their chances of survival are much less than if they’d been raised by their mother.
Here’s what you do if you find a fawn or calf that may be orphaned:
-If it’s lying quietly leave it alone and leave the area.
-Keep children and dogs away from the area.
-Do not touch or feed the animal.
-Return the next day. If the animal is in the exact same spot it may be injured or orphaned. Contact a wildlife officer as soon as possible, but do not move the animal.
Comments
Soooooooooo what happens if I show up with a Barbeque?
LOL…… just kidding…. I actually like wildlife… they TASTE soooooo good!
Kidding again…
People nowadays seem to be so animal welfare-conscious but so far removed from the realities of nature, that they often make really bad decisions for the wildlife.
I think this is an appropriate warning at an appropriate time.
I just hope people read it and heed it.
Lots of moms and fawns along highway 97 in the BCR site along the banks. I was driving home from work last night and saw 3 in the area just off the north end of the 97 south bridge.
Momma fox with 7 healthy cubs living in the culvert on North Nechako. I don’t know how they’ve made it as long as they have. Momma leaves them in the culvert right next to the busy road while she’s out hunting.
My guess is probably a thousand plus deer in the city limits at any one time. No one sees them because we have a lot of bush cover areas, but they are there. Usually hiding in low laying fields with easy access to water.
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