Leave Babies Be

Wildlife

The “parent” in all of us can get a little out of control when it comes to seeing young “orphaned” wildlife.

In most cases, the chick, fawn or cub one sees alone in the woods has a healthy parent nearby. Plucking the youngster from the wild and calling state wildlife agencies to take care of it only dooms the critter to a lifetime of captivity or an early death.

Capturing wildlife without a special permit is against the law in Idaho and Washington, although exceptions are made. The general rule, wildlife officials say, is leave them be, since it’s natural for wildlife parents to leave their young on their own for long periods, or at least until they feel danger has passed.

“In one amusing recent call to a Fish and Game office, the homeowner was frantic because baby ducks hatched on her property,” said Ed Mitchell, Idaho Fish and Game Department spokesman in Boise. “The chicks had immediately taken to the backyard swimming pool and she was afraid they would drown.”