JACKSON, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is urging the public to leave newborn wildlife alone and maintain a distance in order to avoid human-caused wildlife conflicts.
“Newborn wildlife is one of the best parts of springtime in Wyoming, but please view animals from a distance and do not pet or pick them up,” said Doug Brimeyer, Game and Fish deputy chief of wildlife. “With all animals, the first few weeks of life are the most critical in determining their survival and interference from humans can put their lives at risk.”
Most mammals hide their young and return periodically to nurse. People who find young animals without a mother nearby often assume the newborns have been abandoned, but this is almost never the case.
“The mother knows where her young are and will almost certainly return to care for them,” Brimeyer said.
Young birds sometimes fall out of or leave their nests before they are able to fly. The parents continue to care for the young bird while it is on the ground, bringing food and trying to protect the little one while it is in this vulnerable situation.
Getting too close to newborn wildlife can be very dangerous. A mother bear, bison, moose and even deer will display aggressive behavior when humans get close to their young. Leave the area immediately if you encounter aggressive wildlife.
“The best option for people who come across newborn wildlife is to leave them alone,” Brimeyer said. “In short, wildlife don’t need your help; they have been rearing young just fine for centuries.”
If children bring home a wild “orphan,” immediately return it to the exact spot it was found. In the rare instance when a fawn or other newborn is found and the mother is known to be dead, contact the nearest game warden, biologist or Game and Fish Regional Office; do not attempt to capture these animals yourself.
State and federal laws forbid possession of game and many nongame animals, so adopting newborn wildlife is illegal. Citations can be issued for possession of newborn wildlife with a possible penalty of up to a $1,000 fine.
Game and Fish issued this warning after a series of wildlife-conflict incidents ensued in nearby national parks. Since Memorial Day weekend, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) reported numerous actions by visitors that have put people and wildlife at risk and resulted in multiple wildlife deaths.
On May 31 a Hawaii man pleaded guilty to intentionally disturbing wildlife by grabbing a struggling newborn bison calf and pushing it up from the river and onto the roadway in the northeastern section of the park. The incident resulted in the death of the calf.
Also during the Memorial Day weekend, YNP visitors placed an elk calf in their car and brought the newborn to the West Yellowstone, Montana, Police Department. YNP says the elk later ran off into the forest and its condition is unknown, though the incident is still under investigation.
On June 4, two individuals were seen approaching and touching a bison calf at the southern end of Elk Ranch Flats in Grand Teton National Park. Officials are still seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the individuals involved.
