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How many times have you spotted a young bird that has apparently fallen out of its nest? How many times have you seen young rabbits in a nest, and the adult rabbit is nowhere in sight? How many times have you seen a small chipmunk in the clutches of a cat or dog? How many of these times have you raced to the rescue of these animals, taken them home and then watched while they died?
More times than not, this is the fate of many young animals that
were abducted from the wild to be cared for by humans. Although the intention cannot be
faulted, the bottom line is that wild animals should remain where they are -- in the wild!
People should also be reminded that it is not only unwise to take in a wild animal, it is illegal
without the proper permits. |
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Young wildlife are not helpless animals, and they are usually not abandoned. A young bird fluttering under a tree is not necessarily injured; it could be learning to fly under the watchful eyes of a nearby parent. Just because you do not see the adult animals does not mean that they are not around. If a young bird has fallen from the nest, don't take it home. Pick it up, and place it back in the nest. The mother will continue to care for it, and she will do a much better job than a human can. If you discover a nest of young rabbits, leave them alone! Although you may never see the female, she returns, periodically, to care for them. Contrary to popular belief, wild animals do not make good pets. They demand an enormous amount of attention and are not as easily cared for as a dog or cat. Most wild animals are nocturnal, sleeping during the day and active at night. This nighttime activity can result in damaged property and an overall nuisance. Wildlife, such as raccoons, can quickly change from playful pets to harmful animals. Every year, people are injured by captive wild animals. Even if the intent is to set the animals free when they are older, people should still refrain from raising wildlife. Domesticating a wild animal will cause the animal to lose its natural fear of man. This natural fear is vital to the animal's survival as well as public safety. In addition, when appropriate methods for caring for the animal are not used, "imprinting" is the result. Imprinting means that the young animals substitute humans for their parents. They also do not realize that they are a raccoon, squirrel, opossum, etc. When this happens, the animal cannot be released to the wild because they are unable to feed and protect themselves. They are either destined to a life in captivity or may slowly starve to death if released. Disease is another reason that wild animals should not be kept as pets. Wildlife can spread rabies, skin diseases, tuberculosis, distemper and respiratory problems. Rabies, which is always a threat in the wild, can be transmitted to humans with a bite or scratch. Skunks are the most common carrier of the disease, although coyotes, raccoons and foxes frequently carry rabies. In addition to these diseases, wild animals can carry mites, lice, ticks, fleas, heartworms, roundworms and tapeworms. Caring for wild animals requires much time, experience and expertise. It is not as simple as taking a young bird home and feeding it a worm. Many of these wild animals may look helpless, cute and cuddly, but unless they are injured, they should be left alone. And those animals that are injured should be taken care of by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. In Indiana, there are about 50 people licensed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife to do wildlife rehabilitation. These people invest their time and money into caring for injured or orphaned animals. More importantly, the wildlife rehabilitator does not keep the animals in captivity after they have recovered. They release them back where they belong -- in the wild. If you must pick up an injured wild animal, cover it with a cloth to calm it, and gently place the animal in a box. Don't try to take care of it yourself. These animals need special care and treatment. Contact your county conservation officer or the Division of Fish and Wildlife for the name of the nearest wildlife rehabilitator. Don't let the looks of a solitary, young animal deceive you. Unless it is injured, look the other way, and avoid the temptation to be a wildlife parent. Information Provided
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