AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is reminding residents that baby animals, while cute, are best left alone. In fact, state law prevents human meddling.

The reminder comes just ahead of fawning season — when baby deer start to appear across the Lone Star State.

Texas wildlife reminder

TPWD says they know it’s tempting to want to help baby animals that appear to need assistance. However, they’re reminding Texans, not only is it illegal to touch the animals, but they often don’t need the help. 

What they’re saying:

“People want to help, but intervening is often the worst thing you can do,” said Richard Heilbrun, TPWD Division Deputy Director. “Most young animals are not abandoned, their parents are nearby and will return. The best thing you can do is give them space.”

It’s illegal to capture or keep wild animals under Texas law without the proper permits, and attempting to relocate them is also not allowed except under very specific regulations. 

Texas animal sightings

White-tailed deer fawning season starts in early to mid-May, the department says, and mother deer — or does — will often leave their babies hidden for hours at a time before they return to feed them. Since fawns are well-camouflaged with their spotted coats in infancy, those “hiding places” are often in plain sight, where they blend into their surroundings. The department wants residents to know that those fawns aren’t abandoned; rather, their mothers are most often out finding food. 

Baby birds are also often mistaken as abandoned and in need of rescue. Species like doves, blue jays and mockingbirds will spend a lot of time on the ground as babies while they learn to fly, and it’s common to think they need help getting back to safety. In actuality, the department says, their parents are still nearby keeping watch, and humans’ attempts to assist can be more of a hindrance. 

(GERMANY OUT) young blackbirds in the bird’s nest (Photo by Hohlfeld/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

Turtles are often seen in Texas this time of year as well, particularly, the department notes, while trying to cross roadways. They provided information about helping the reptiles get out of the path of cars, which you can access here, but they’re also reminding residents that wild animals cannot be captured as pets. 

Particularly in South Texas at this time of year, alligator sightings are also on the rise. The warmer months ahead of the summer are the reptiles’ mating period, and it becomes more common to see them crossing roads or sunning near public waterways. Alligators should be avoided, and pets and children should be kept nearby when in common sighting areas.

How to help wild animals

What you can do:

If you find an animal in the wild that truly seems to need immediate help, the first step should always be to contact the wildlife department. 

Reach out to a TPWD wildlife rehabilitator if you find yourself in that position, and never start by trying to handle or relocate an animal on your own. 

Learn more about what to do upon encountering orphaned or injured wildlife on the TPWD Wildlife Division website. Tips from biologists regarding fawns and baby birds are available on the TPWD YouTube channel.

AUSTIN, Texas — Grief and anger from last year’s deadly July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic filled the Texas Capitol on Tuesday night, as parents urged state lawmakers to keep the camp from reopening and to deny renewal of its license.

The parents spoke during the second day of an investigative hearing before the General Investigative Committee, offering their perspectives on the future of Camp Mystic. The Eastland family, which runs the camp, was seated nearby.

“A daycare, with 27 dead children, and this evidence already on record, would have already been closed,” said Bolton Walters, a parent of a victim camper.

CiCi Steward, the mother of a missing Camp Mystic camper, told lawmakers, “No camp will be safe for any child as long as the Eastlands are associated with it.”

Parents recounted the trauma of the flooding that killed 27 campers and counselors. Malorie Lytal, a parent of a victim camper, described what happened to her child: “As her cabin filled with flood waters, she was left to fend for herself, and washed miles downriver to die the most horrific, gruesome death.”

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KEYE DVR_WINDOW

Steward called on the state not to renew the camp’s license.

“Camp Mystics’ license should not be renewed. If a child dies in a Texas camp this summer, it will not be because we lack the information to prevent it,” she said. “Those lies of safety, preparedness, and readiness cause the greatest mass casualty event involving children in the history of the state.”

Camp Mystic is hoping to reopen on May 30 at their Cypress location.

Last week, the Texas Department of State Health Services found 22 deficiencies in the emergency plan camp leaders submitted. The findings included gaps in the camp’s flood evacuation procedures and failure to submit a required floodplain map to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.

Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said camps need emergency plans that are formalized and coordinated with local authorities.

“It’s got to be written. It’s got to be trained. It’s got to be exercised. It’s got to be funded. It’s not a one-and-done. It’s not a destination, it’s a journey,” Kidd said.

Even with plans to reopen at the Cypress location, parents remained skeptical that the camp could operate safely under its current leadership. Julie Marshall, a parent of a victim camper, said, “The Eastland’s prayers didn’t save the girls that night. I worry the Eastland’s prayers going forward are not an appropriate safety plan.”

At the end of the hearing, Texas DSHS said they are actively implementing legislation for youth camp safety, and will not be approving any camp’s licenses if they do not have an acceptable emergency management plan.