If You Care—leave Them There

Every spring Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks issues a message to Montanans to leave new born fawns, birds, and other infant wildlife where people find them.

“If you care, leave them there,” said Ron Aasheim, spokesman for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Helena.

Aasheim said that most birds, for instance, learn to fly from the ground up, and not from the nest.

“Whether you find a fawn or fledgling bird under a tree in a neighbor’s yard or bunny under a bush it’s important to know that wild animals commonly cache their young for periods of time to protect them from predators while the adults are feeding.”

Montana law prohibits the capture, feeding, possession and harassment of wildlife—both game and nongame species. These laws also protect Montana’s wild animals from becoming “pets.”

To learn more about living with Montana’s wildlife, visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov then Living With Wildlife .