Leave Baby Animals Alone: Help Them Stay Wild

Montanans love wildlife and are concerned for their well-being. But when it comes to baby animals, that concern can lead to a tragic conclusion.

Every year, Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) gets hundreds of calls from people with the best intentions, but when they pick up a baby animal, they put its life in danger. Many calls this time of year involve deer fawns, but reports also frequently cite squirrels, chipmunks, and birds.

Often, when young wildlife appear abandoned, it is a mother's safety strategy. A mother will distance itself from its young for many hours at a time to help to keep pred...