Rebecca Ferrell, CPW. Each spring Colorado welcomes an abundance of new life, including young wildlife. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds residents and visitors that if you see young wildlife in the coming weeks and months…Leave Them Alone. To protect these animals, it is important that people don’t feed, don’t approach and don’t harass.

Every year during spring and summer, Colorado Parks and Wildlife receives numerous calls reporting young wildlife that had been “abandoned” by adult animals. Well-meaning animal lovers are often tempted to help a young animal by picking it up or feeding it, but these are the wrong things to do. Young animals do not need rescuing and have been prepared by nature to survive without human intervention. In fact, human intervention most often does more harm than good. 

Young wildlife is frequently left alone in a safe location while adult animals go on the search for food. Young fawns and calves are left for long periods of time and are safer when they are left alone. If you come across young wildlife, do not approach them, as the mother is probably nearby. 

During this time of the year, it is also common for baby birds to be found outside of their nests, leading people to think these birds have been abandoned. This often happens when birds are learning to fly. Most likely, they have landed very near their nests. 

Because birds do not have a highly developed sense of smell, baby songbirds can be picked up and moved out of harm’s way or placed back in their nests if absolutely necessary. The young of raptors, however, are a different story. Great-horned owls and other raptors are territorial and have been known to fly directly at humans seen as a threat to their young. 

If you do encounter young wildlife on the trail or in your yard, leave the animal where it is and be careful to keep pets out of the area. Do not get too close to the animals as human proximity may make the wild parents afraid to return. 

In addition to potential harm to the animal, there is potential for harm to humans, as well. Handling wildlife poses risks, including disease transmission of rabies, distemper or other illnesses. Wildlife can also carry flies and ticks that might subsequently spread disease to humans or pets. 

If you see young wildlife this spring, admire them from a safe distance and then move on quietly. 

For more information on living with wildlife, visit http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/LivingwithWildlife.aspx