Prince George, B.C. – With spring in full swing the provincial government is reminding British Columbians to refrain from touching or approaching newborn deer, elk or moose.

Advising “mother always knows best,” the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations say people who find newborns alone often mistakenly believe they’ve been left alone but say it’s often not the case.

“Intervening in these situations by ‘rescuing’ the fawn or calf is rarely necessary and will usually do more harm than good,” reads a government news release.

The ministry also warns returning mothers who find humans or pets near their young “can become aggressive to defend their offspring.”

If you do encounter a fawn or calf you believe may be orphaned, here the ministry provides some tips:

If it is lying quietly, leave it alone and leave the area. Your presence will discourage the mother from returning
Keep all children and especially dogs away from the area
If you think the fawn or calf is not being cared for by its mother, return the next day to check. If it is in the exact same spot, it may be injured or orphaned. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible but do not touch or move the animal
Do no touch or feed the animal

To find a wildlife rehabilitator click here.