Protecting Young Wildlife

Each year, especially in the spring and summer, many young wild animals are unnecessarily picked up by the general public and taken to animal shelters, referred to game wardens, or to wildlife rehabilitators for treatment and rearing. While most of these animals are picked up by well-meaning people, the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department wants citizens to know that many such human-animal encounters are unnecessary and can even be detrimental to the wildlife concerned.

“The most commonly referred animals are baby birds and deer fawns,” says Dorinda Pulliam, assistant director for animal services. “Here in Austin, raccoons and possums are also frequently brought into the shelter. Unnecessary referrals to rehabilitators can be detrimental to these wildlife and others. A young animal’s best chance for survival is with its natural parents.”

The following situations are the most common and should be approached with discretion:

• Offspring calling from the nest – Many animals deliberately avoid areas where their offspring are present. Such “hiding” behaviors reduce the chance of calling a predator’s attention to the young. It is normal if the parent is absent from the nest, and most likely, they are nearby.
• Blown-down nest - If the nest and young birds or eggs are undamaged, replace the nest into the tree from which it fell. The parents will continue to tend to their young.
• Grounded baby birds - It is common for birds to fledge from the nest before they are fully feathered or flight-ready; their parents will feed them while they are on the ground until they are ready to fly.
• Abandoned deer fawns - Mother deer leave their fawns bedded down while they are away foraging. If the fawn is not crying or wounded, do not handle or disturb it; the mother will return shortly.

This year, the Town Lake Animal Shelter would like to reduce the number of animals that are brought into the shelter and then subsequently placed with rehabilitators. The public can help us by refraining from interfering with these animals unless it is clear that the animal has truly been orphaned or is injured.