Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is urging residents to avoid handling baby birds and young animals they might encounter in the wild as the spring season progresses. The department emphasizes that such well-meaning interventions can often do more harm than good.

IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie stated, "The most helpful thing people can do for wildlife is to enjoy the animals through observation, not interference. If you really care about the animals, just leave them alone when you come across them in nature."

The Illinois Wildlife Code prohibits keeping wild animals as pets or attempting to rear those believed to be abandoned. Incidents involving illegal captivity are costly and divert resources from other important tasks. Most wild birds are protected by state law, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act provide additional protection at the federal level.

The department offered several reminders about local wildlife: Many young birds, known as fledglings, live on the ground while their flight feathers grow and should be left undisturbed. Similarly, young fawns waiting for their mothers are not necessarily abandoned unless they remain in the same spot for several days, at which point a licensed wildlife rehabilitator should be contacted. Rabbits also have specific habitat and parental-care behaviors that encourage non-intervention.

IDNR advises against feeding wildlife in areas with wild deer to limit nuisance activity and adheres to strict regulations per Illinois Administrative Code 17-635. The department also warns about the hazards of handling wild animals, as bites from animals such as raccoons can lead to rabies and other zoonotic diseases. Recent cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza among wild birds highlight the need for caution.

"Survival rates for relocated wildlife are very low, and the risk of accidentally moving diseases from one place to another is high," warned IDNR wildlife chief Mike Wefer. For guidance on managing potentially abandoned wildlife, the department suggests reaching out to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

For more information on orphaned animals, possible wildlife conflicts, and safety measures for people, pets, and wildlife, the public is directed to visit Wildlife Illinois online.