Unfortunately, the lives of many young animals are disrupted by well intentioned people who think they are rescuing these animals. Human intervention is usually unnecessary and can be detrimental to the development of the natural survival instinct.

The best course of action if you find "orphaned" wildlife is to refrain from approaching it. Perceived acts of kindness often result in tragedy for young wildlife taken from their natural habitat. Instead of being left to learn how to survive, they are denied critical learning experiences. Animals may become attached to or "imprinted" on their human caregivers, causing them to lose their natural instincts and become more susceptible to predation or injury as they mature. In most cases, they cannot be returned to the wild.

If a baby bird is found on a lawn where it might be harmed by a mower, children playing or a pet cat or dog, it can be placed up in a shrub near where it was found. This way it will be protected and the parent can still feed it.

An animal's best chance of survival is with its parents. Though a lone animal may look vulnerable, it is not in need of outside help; it is using its natural instincts to hide and protect itself until the parents return from foraging for food.

Human scents such as perfume, deodorant, and detergent can also be transferred to an animal during contact, which can discourage a parent from accepting it back or potentially attract predators that associate human scent with food.

Handling wild animals and bringing them into the home also poses a health risk for both people and pets. Wildlife can transmit life-threatening diseases such as rabies and can carry parasites such as roundworms, lice, fleas and ticks.

Handling any type of wildlife demands the utmost caution as all animals will attempt to defend themselves from perceived danger. In addition, it is against the law to take animals from the wild and keep them as pets.

If you do find a wild animal that is injured or orphaned (the parent is known to be dead), please call the nearest wildlife rehabilitator for assistance. Wildlife rehabilitators are licensed and inspected by DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife and are trained and equipped to handle wildlife emergencies.