Don’t handle baby animals

A mother bear and four cubs were discovered in Crystal Falls last week.

A coyote was spotted in Iron Mountain this week.

It’s spring in the Upper Peninsula.

As spring returns and wild birds and animals begin to produce the next generation of living natural resources, Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials are reminding outdoor enthusiasts to resist handling or adopting what appear to be orphaned baby animals.

Wild animals are protected by state regulations and may only be kept by those who possess Wildlife Rehabilitation Permits.

Some people find fledgling birds or fawns, and believe they are rescuing the animal.

What most people do not realize is that most of the time, the mother is nearby.

Many biological and disease problems are associated with handling wild animals, including distemper, rabies, parasites and mange.

Raccoons, for example, are known to host a roundworm that can cause blindness and death in people.

It is normal for many wild animal species to leave their young unattended for hours at a time. Deer, for example, leave their fawns for up to eight hours before returning to nurse.

Unlike human babies, wildlife young do not require the constant attention of their “parents.”

Taking a fawn home is illegal and, more importantly, usually amounts to a death warrant for that animal.

A tamed deer will walk in front of a car or try to leap through a sliding glass door. A tamed buck can and often will attack people when it becomes sexually mature and begins to view humans as rivals, not as its friends.

Its chances of survival in the wild go down each day that it is kept as a pet.

Many people think if they touch young birds the mother will abandon the nest — this is not true. If you find a young bird, place it back in its nest.

Another problem with taking wildlife young and attempting to adopt them as pets is termed “imprinting,” which means that the young animals come to substitute humans for their parents and cannot be successfully released back into the wild when they mature.

These animals have imprinted on humans as their source of food and protection, and are doomed to a lifetime of captivity in order to survive.

These animals typically slowly starve to death once released into the wild, or they seek out humans in their search for food and become nuisance animals, lingering near homes despite attempts to chase them away.

Often, these animals must be physically moved to new and more remote locations, or euthanized.

Additionally, wild animals are often not trustworthy companions.

Raccoons are the most popular wild animal to keep as a pet, but they can change quickly from playful pets to harmful pests, DNR officials said.

Each year, people are hurt or worse by captive wild pets.

And because many wild animals sleep during the day and are active at night, they can be a real nuisance in the home and may cause property damage while humans are asleep.

Wildlife young can also be disease carriers.

Rabies has been found in a number of species of Michigan wildlife.

Coyotes, skunks, raccoons and fox are the most common carriers, but no animal is immune to the disease. Wild animals are also carriers or mites, ticks, fleas, heartworms, roundworms, tapeworms, tuberculosis, distemper, respiratory and skin diseases.

Some of these can spread to humans on contact, DNR officials said.

Captive wild animals are often injured unintentionally by human handling and care.

Lack of knowledge about the needs of wild creatures can result in abuse. Examples of that abuse include:

— Inadequate or improper food.

— Extended periods of time in a cage or pen.

— Health concerns not identified or addressed.

— Smelly, dirty and unhealthy environment.

— Too much handling or teasing.

In essence, the rule is:

— If you come across a wild baby animal in the wild, the best thing you can do for that animal is to leave it alone and leave the area immediately.

— Tie or leash all domestic dogs so that they do not chase parent animals away from young that have been left while the parent forages.

— If you find an injured animal, or find a baby animal that you truly feel has been abandoned, contact the DNR office nearest the location of the animal so that an expert can assess the situation.

The care of a wildlife baby requires an expert — either a DNR biologist or the animal’s parent.

Unless you are one of the above, leave the animal alone.