The recent tourist-animal debacles have marred the 2016 Yellowstone National Park opening.

The Wyoming Game & Fish Department, also has a message for tourist and natives alike.

If for any reason you should run across young animals this spring...simply leave them alone.

People finding these young mammals often assume these newborns have been abandoned, but this is almost never the case.

 

Many mammal mothers hide their young to keep them safe and know exactly where the newborns are to feed and care for them.

What if you find a young bird out of its nest?

Young birds will sometimes fall out or get pushed out of their nests before they are able to fly. The mother bird will care for the young bird while it is on the ground, bringing food and trying to protect the youngster while it is in this vulnerable situation.

What if you have run-in with a bigger animal, say a moose or a bear?

Getting too close to some newborn wildlife can be very dangerous. A mother bear or moose will display very aggressive behavior when humans get close to their young. It is a good idea to leave an area immediately if you encounter an aggressive wildlife mother with her young.

Just like the offenders in Yellowstone there are penalties to be paid if you don't abide by the State & Federal rules.

State and federal laws forbid possession of game and many nongame animals, so adopting newborn wildlife is illegal. Citations can be issued for possession of newborn wildlife with the possible penalty of up to a $1,000 fine.

If children bring home a wild “orphan,” immediately return it to the exact spot it was found. In the rare instance when a fawn or other newborn is found and the mother is known to be dead, contact the nearest game warden, biologist or Game and Fish Regional Office; do not attempt to capture these animals yourself.

(Wyoming Game and Fish (307) 777-4600)

 

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