LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – As baby wildlife season gets underway across Michigan, state officials are reminding residents that a young animal found alone is usually not abandoned.

In a recent press release, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges people to resist the temptation to rescue fawns, bunnies, and young birds that appear to be on their own.

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“Unless an animal is clearly injured or in immediate danger, keep your distance so the parent feels safe enough to return,” the DNR said.

If the animal is injured, call a wildlife rehabilitator in your area.

Parents are often nearby.

According to the DNR, mother rabbits and deer commonly leave their young for extended periods while searching for food. The strategy helps protect the animals by reducing the chance that predators will detect them. The agency also noted that fledgling birds frequently spend time on the ground while learning to fly and continue to be fed and cared for by their parents.

Bird nests protected by law.

The DNR also reminds residents that active bird nests containing eggs or chicks are protected under state and federal law. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is illegal to destroy, move, touch, or possess active nests without a permit.

While it may be tempting to intervene, the DNR says young wildlife generally have the best chance of survival when left in its natural habitat. As the agency put it in its press release, “Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is simply let wildlife be.”