HARRISBURG – With Memorial Day being the unofficial kick-off to summer, the PA Game Commission is reminding those spending time in the great outdoors to leave young wildlife alone. While some young animals might appear to be abandoned, usually they are not. When encountering young wild animals, whether deer, birds, raccoons or something else, the best thing is leave them alone. Adult animals often leave their young while they forage for food. Typically, the adults will not venture far and will return. Wildlife also often relies on a natural defensive tactic called the “hider strategy,” where young animals will remain motionless and “hide” in surrounding cover while adults draw the attention of potential predators or other intruders away from their young. When deer employ the strategy, fawns are sometimes assumed to be abandoned when, in fact, their mothers are nearby. The Game Commission urges Pennsylvanians to resist the urge to interfere with young wildlife or remove any wild animal from its natural setting.
