HARRISBURG PA – While the spring weather has been more varied than usual, a Pennsylvania Game Commission official says one thing’s for certain: those in the Commonwealth are sure to encounter young wildlife everywhere from their backyards to the mountains.

“Whether enjoying your yard or hiking in the woods, (people must) leave wildlife alone and in the wild, especially the young of the year,” said Calvin W. DuBrock, director of the state Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management.

“Being outdoors in the spring,” DuBrock agrees, “is an enjoyable way to spend time and learn more about nature.” But in coming days and weeks, he adds, residents and visitors will find it common to discover young deer, rabbits, birds, raccoons or other wildlife, some of which may appear to be abandoned. “Rest assured that in most cases, the young animal is not an orphan or abandoned, and the best thing you can do is to leave it alone, he said.”

Adult animals often leave their young while the adults forage for food.  Also, wildlife often relies on a natural defensive tactic called the “hider strategy,” in which young animals remain motionless and “hide” in surrounding cover while adults draw the attention of potential predators or other intruders away from their young.

“While it may appear as if the adults are abandoning their young, in reality, this is just the animal using its natural instincts to protect its young,” DuBrock said.

Photo from Google Images