Sometimes it's best to just walk away

Fuzzy, small and adorable, few things are as irresistible as a baby animal. Equally difficult to resist is the urge to help them when they appear to be lost and all alone.

It’s tough not to act when one stumbles upon a baby bunny alone in the yard, or happens onto a fragile little fawn curled up in a sea of grass with no mother in sight — in fact it feels wrong to do nothing.

Yet walking away is precisely what wildlife experts advise in most cases because chances are good that your help is actually the last thing a young, wild animal needs.

Take for instance the woman who, in late June, walked into the Alamo with a white-tailed fawn on a leash.

When questioned by a Texas game warden, she explained she had found the young deer on the side of the road. She brought it with her for Fourth of July photos with family at the historic mission, according to a Saturday news release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The fawn was seized and taken to a wildlife rehabilitator and charges are now pending against the woman for violating state law prohibiting the possession of game animals.

Not knowing exactly what led up to the fawn’s discovery on the side of the road, chances are good the mother deer had gone off to forage and knew exactly where her baby was — only now the little one will require surrogate care until it’s ready to be reintroduced into the wild — hence the reason for the strong reaction by wildlife folks.

It may seem foreign to us humans who believe in parenting with a watchful eye, but that’s a luxury wild critters just don’t have.

Providing for young ones isn’t easy in the natural world, and with the need to move fast or cover a lot of ground being part of survival, leaving the kiddos tucked safely in a hiding spot is the best option when wild parents forage or hunt for food.

Swooping in to rescue a young critter that seems abandoned or lost might just be tantamount to abduction — and anything but helpful.

Once permanently separated from its parents, special care will be needed and a young animal’s chances for survival dwindle.

If a young wild animal is found:

• Watch from a distance or check back periodically. Rabbits, fawns and other wild young often spend hours hiding while their mothers are away. Chances are good mom will be back soon.

• There are plenty of reasons to be on the ground. Baby birds may fall or be pushed from the nest while learning to fly. If a young bird lacks feathers and you can safely access its nest, put it back. It’s a myth that its parents will reject baby birds touched by humans.

• When all else fails: If an animal is sick, injured, or it becomes clear the parent is not returning, contact wildlife officials for assistance. More information about New Mexico wildlife can be found online at: http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us

It can be difficult to walk away from an animal that seems to be in need, but when it comes to wild things, sometimes the best help you can give is none at all.

Sharna Johnson is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at: [email protected]