‘Keep Wildlife Wild’: Know what to do if you encounter young animals this spring

For the Tomahawk Leader

WISCONSIN – As warmer weather approaches, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding the public that wild animals and their young will be on the move across Wisconsin.

"Springtime brings a flurry of inquiries from concerned individuals about the wildlife they are encountering. It is perfectly natural for many species of young wild animals to be left alone for extended periods of time, and they should not be disturbed," said Jenna Fastner, DNR Captive Wildlife Health Specialist. "Wild animals are well-adapted to life in the wild and learning natural behaviors from their own species is imperative to their survival."

“Knowing what to do before you find a young wild animal can make all the difference in the moment to protect it and keep it in the wild with its parents,” the DNR said. “The public can help keep wildlife wild by observing from a safe distance to provide young wild animals their best chance of survival. Keep people and pets away from the area. If your children are interested in the animal(s), they can learn to keep wildlife wild by observing from a safe distance.”

The DNR said some common young wild animals you may encounter this spring include:

• Cottontail rabbit kits can be encountered anytime from spring through fall. They open their eyes at one week old and begin exploring outside the nest for short periods to nibble on grasses after about two to three weeks.
• Eastern gray squirrels raise their young in leaf nests, called dreys, tree cavities and man-made structures such as attics. Litters typically consist of two to four young, called kits. By seven weeks old, they will begin to explore outside the nest area.
• Opossums are the only marsupial in North America, and females have a pouch on their abdomen in which they carry and nurse their young. As they grow, joeys begin to ride on their mother’s back until they are approximately seven inches long from snout to rump when they become independent.
• Raccoon kits are 12 to 14 inches long and capable of walking, climbing and exploring by six to eight weeks of age. When they're at the exploring stage, they can be seen active during the day without their mother.

“Wildlife rehabilitation facilities often reach capacity during the warmer months and need to limit admissions of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife,” the DNR stated. “The public can help reserve space for wild animals truly in need by always contacting a licensed professional for advice before assuming a wild animal needs help."

In Wisconsin, you must have a license to conduct wildlife rehabilitation, and you should never try to care for a wild animal yourself to protect their health and yours, the DNR added.

Visit the DNR's Keep Wildlife Wild webpage to learn more about the normal behaviors of Wisconsin’s wildlife and why it is important for young wild animals to grow up in their natural environment.