As warmer weather draws people outdoors, the Wisconsin DNR and local wildlife rehabilitation organizations are urging the public to protect young animals by leaving them in the wild.

The Northwoods has a number of fantastic resources to help wildlife that may be in need of assistance. Those rehabbers each year stress the importance of calling a professional for guidance before approaching any suspected sick or abandoned wild animals. This not only protects the public from possible infection, but also helps save time and energy for rehabbers that are already busy.

Mark Naniot of Wild Instincts, based in Rhinelander, says his staff is available 24/7 to answer questions. In his two-plus decades of rehabilitating animals, he has seen a number of scenarios where people with good intentions intervene, ultimately causing harm to the wildlife they were trying to help. Handling animals that could be carrying infectious diseases can be dangerous for the humans, but can also lead to sad ends for the animals involved.

When training his interns for the season, Naniot said one of the subjects they go over extensively is zoonoses, or diseases that animals can transmit to people. A few examples include Covid, West Nile virus, rabies, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, or bird flu).

“We also go over the many parasites, both external and internal wild animals are host to. Disney movies always seem to overlook these very important things to know,” Naniot said. “The risk of diseases and parasites is just one of the many reasons we ask you to call immediately if you find a wild animal you think may need help. We are aware of the potential risks and can advise you how to get the animal to the help it needs safely, for you, your pets and the animals.”

Earlier this spring, some fox kits were brought in and suspected to be infected with HPAI, which can not only be found in birds but also other wildlife species that prey on birds.

These kits had been handled by multiple families which led to health departments getting involved and the need for not only HPAI testing, but also rabies testing of the kits.

For those who don’t know, rabies tests are done by inspecting brain tissue and can only be completed after an animal is dead. While none of the foxes were rabid, they were found to be infected with HPAI, which causes neurological problems and abnormal behavior.
Naniot again emphasized the importance of calling for advice before handling wild animals.

“HPAI can infect people. It can be spread through bodily fluids,” he said. “We take extra strict biosecurity measures to protect people and other patients; things you probably don’t think about … They are cute, adorable, and could also be a biohazard to you, your kids, and your pets.”

Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minocqua and Wild Instincts are both available to answer questions regarding animal behavior or well-being, helping the well-meaning public to decipher what is normal behavior and what signals an animal may be in need.

With “baby season” in full swing, both nonprofit organizations have already been inundated with orphaned or injured baby animals, ranging from cottontail bunnies to gray squirrel babies, injured birds and turtles. Anyone who locates a seemingly sick, injured, or abandoned wildlife should always call for guidance before approaching the animals.

Wild Instincts can be reached any time by calling 715-362-9453. To reach Northwoods Wildlife Center, call 715-356-7400.

Baby season

The DNR has shared similar guidance regarding other common young Northwoods wildlife, noting that while it may be tempting to intervene, a white-tailed fawn found resting quietly by itself is rarely abandoned. During their first few weeks of life, fawns stay hidden to avoid predators, relying on their spotted coats and minimal scent for protection while their mothers forage nearby.

“Young fawns are often left alone for most of the day to keep them safe,” said Jenna Fastner, a DNR captive wildlife health specialist. “Although their mother can return at any time, white-tailed deer are crepuscular, or more active at dawn and dusk, which means the fawn can be alone for long periods between feedings.”

By the Fourth of July, most fawns are fast enough to safely travel alongside their mothers. Until then, the DNR asks the public to observe fawns from a safe distance.

People should never touch or feed a fawn, as wild animals have specialized diets and improper feeding can cause severe nutritional deficiencies, deformities or death. Observers should also keep pets away, as mothers will not return to the fawn if people or other animals are present.

The DNR’s warning extends beyond deer, as spring brings a surge of encounters with other young wildlife, including cottontail rabbits, eastern gray squirrels, opossums and raccoons.

“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,” Fastner said. “Wild animals are well-adapted to life in the wild and learning natural behaviors from their own species is imperative to their survival.”

Like fawns, there are a number of species that often explore their environments without parental supervision. These can include animals like cottontail rabbits and eastern gray squirrels. Fastner said rabbit kits nibble grasses outside the nest at just 2 to 3 weeks old, while squirrel kits begin exploring outside their nests by 7 weeks of age.

Raccoon kits are capable of walking and climbing by 6 to 8 weeks old and can sometimes be seen exploring actively during the day without their mother, while opossum joeys initially ride on their mother’s back but become completely independent once they reach about 7 inches in length.

Fastner also reminds people that Wisconsin law strictly prohibits taking an animal from the wild to keep as a pet. It is also illegal to care for an animal without a wildlife rehabilitation license to protect both human and animal health.