“Mamas know best”: Idaho Fish and Game Warns against interfering with spring baby animals – LocalNews8.com

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Springtime in Eastern Idaho means warmer weather and recreational activities in nature for residents. It also means baby animals are out and about, sometimes with no mother in sight. Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) wants to warn people against interfering with nature and the abilities of mother animals to care for their young, recalling an incident last year when a group of citizens dropped off a young fawn in a box at an Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) office.

“The weather is wonderful, and of course we have the chance to see wildlife moms with their babies, which makes it extra fun,” said Jennifer Jackson, Regional Communications Manager for Idaho Fish and Game in Eastern Idaho. “But it’s also a time to be aware of protective mothers and give them space on the trails.”

“Trust that the mom’s going to come back”

While exploring nature areas or unmarked trails, people may encounter baby moose, fawns, goslings, ducklings and more. Residents may also find these species right in their own backyards.

“We’ve had situations where people see a little fawn curled up under a tree and think the mom’s not in the picture,” she said. “They think they need to pick up the animal and take it to Fish and Game. The reality is, much of the time a baby animal has been left where it’s at because the mom put it there.”

Mother animals, particularly deer, may leave their children behind while they forage for food, drawing predators away from the babies. By stealing from nature and grabbing a baby animal, people are taking it away from it’s mother and putting it in more danger.

“If you encounter a situation where you’ve found a little baby, don’t assume it’s orphaned. Rather, keep your distance and trust that mom’s going to come back,” Jackson said.

When Fish & Game Steps In

In some cases, people may have real concerns about the condition of a young animal. For those situations, IDFG encourages you to call their local office so they can investigate the situation.

Jackson said that IDFG has stepped in on special occasions when conditions are met to help save young wildlife. A few years ago, two moose calves were orphaned when the mother moose was hit by a car in southeast Idaho. In collaboration with Zoo Idaho in Pocatello, IDFG was able to transport the calves and locate a facility with the capacity to permanently and properly care for them.

She also said to beware of hiking with your dog, as mother moose and bear can see the dogs as threats to their children and may try to engage or charge. In that situation, it’s best to back up and move away.

“If you do have a concern about a situation you’re seeing, if you think it’s an orphaned animal, just give us a call,” Jackson said. “We deal with wildlife species here in the state of Idaho, and so it’s really under our purview to make those calls.”

She said most times, they’ll tell you to leave the animal where it is, and the mother will likely be back to take care of it, and is aware of its location. By putting it in a box and bringing it to Idaho Fish and Game, it removes the baby from its home and potentially from necessary parental care.

“They’re doing it because they love wildlife. They care about the animals, and they want what’s best for that animal,” Jackson said. “We like to tell them sometimes what’s best is leaving those animals right where they’re at.”

If you’re concerned about an animal situation, call the Southeast Idaho Regional Fish and Game office at 208-232-4703.