Wildlife 101
How to help wildlife responsibly
As spring arrives and people head to the outdoors, wildlife sightings increase. But what should you do if you encounter an animal that appears injured or orphaned?
Your instinct may be to rescue the animal, but the best plan of action is to simply wait. Laura Burford, wildlife program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, says it’s important to protect wildlife from human intervention—even humans with good intentions.
“This happens a lot in the spring,” Burford says. “Well-meaning people encounter a deer fawn or a bird, and our tendency is to want to help. But rescuing an animal that doesn’t need rescuing does more harm than good.”
When helping hurts
Many animal parents leave their young alone for hours at a time, only returning to feed, Burford says. The amount of time animals spend with their young—and how close they stay—varies among species. Burford says what appears to be an orphan may be a perfectly healthy young animal waiting for a nearby parent to return. An animal parent might not see a human as a helper, but as a threat.
“The design of nature is for young animals to be taken care of by their parents,” she says. “They may be alone, but that doesn’t mean they are orphaned.”
Wildlife sometimes ventures into human territory, but that isn’t an invitation for contact, Burford says. Deer in a residential area should be left alone and not offered food from humans. Rabbit nests should be left undisturbed and can be marked with a large rock or post to avoid accidentally mowing that area. Removing an animal from its natural environment should only be done when absolutely necessary, Burford says.
“When you start moving animals around, you risk them becoming acclimated to people and that is not what we want,” she says. “Our goal is to keep wildlife wild and keep people and wildlife safe.”
At home with nature
If a wild animal finds its way into your home, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources offers a directory of permitted nuisance control operators who can help homeowners safely remove animals. Bats, birds or even small mammals can get into a house but mean no harm. Trapping the animal should be left to a professional, but helping the animal exit through an open window or door is usually the best option, Burford says.
“Certain times of year people will call concerned about bats in their house,” she says. “That can be scary, but usually the bats aren’t attacking. They just want out. Anytime you can give that animal a way out, it’s the best solution.”
Human safety is also at risk in these encounters with wildlife. Contact with a wild animal risks spreading disease or personal injury, Burford says. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 90% of reported cases of rabies occur in wildlife.
If someone is bitten by an animal in the wild, they should contact the local health department immediately.
“Sometimes it is super hard to wait, but you should avoid touching the animal if at all possible,” Burford says. “Anytime an animal is acting abnormally, you don’t want to come into contact with it because it might be sick or injured and react out of fear.”
It’s not just a safety concern when humans interfere with wildlife—it’s also a legal matter. It is illegal in Kentucky to remove young wildlife from the wild, and specific rules and permits are required to transport wildlife in or out of Kentucky.
“You should contact somebody permitted to rescue animals if you suspect an animal is orphaned or injured,” Burford says.
This opossum, which was injured by a weed eater, made a full recovery at Second Chances Wildlife Center and was released after a few months. Photo: Brigette Brouillard
Leave it to the experts
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources keeps a list of permitted wildlife rehabilitators on its website, with detailed information on what species each organization takes in. These licensed wildlife rehabilitators rescue, raise and provide medical care for orphaned, sick or injured wildlife with the goal of releasing them back into nature.
Second Chances Wildlife Center in Mount Washington is a wildlife rehabilitation facility that takes in bats, squirrels, groundhogs, foxes, skunks and other native Kentucky wildlife.
Founder and Executive Director Brigette Brouillard says while it’s good that people are caring and compassionate toward wildlife, an untrained rescuer can cause many problems that lead to illness or death of the animal.
The state wildlife agency requires rehabilitation facilities to complete courses through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, pass inspections and hold the proper permits. Brouillard calls the process rigorous and says it gives staff and volunteers the training needed to care for wildlife in a way the average person can’t. There are two mistakes most people make when they attempt to rescue wildlife, she says: accidentally kidnapping animals that still have parents caring for them; and trying to feed the animal without the proper training and supplies.
“People are trying to help, but it hinders the healing process,” she says. “For example, people will feed a wild animal cow’s milk, but these animals cannot absorb the nutrients in the milk. That can upset their stomach, leading to diarrhea and dehydration. Smaller animals are more likely to aspirate due to improper feeding, which can lead to death.”
Brouillard echoes Burford’s “wait and see” advice. According to Second Chances, around 50% of all animals that rehabilitators receive are animals that did not need to be rescued.
Resources for dealing with native wildlife encounters
Reinforce your knowledge of what to do if you stumble across native wildlife that might be injured or abandoned—or not.
Leave Baby Wildlife Alone is a video by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Read more on the subject here and here.
Questions about the state regulation that governs the native wildlife capture and removal? Read its provisions here.
