News

Actions

Arizona Game and Fish warns against 'rescuing' baby wildlife

Posted at 5:11 AM, Aug 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-05 08:11:39-04

Arizona wildlife officials are reminding the public not to try and help newborn wildlife, even if they appear to have been abandoned.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department said Thursday that people have brought several deer fawns to the agency's offices in the past several weeks.

Officials say the juvenile or infant animals end up orphaned while the mother is left searching for her young.

Game and Fish education program manager Mike Demlong says wildlife raised by humans has a lower survival rate.

Deer fawns and elk caves cannot be returned to the wild because of disease concerns.

Experts say it is best to leave a healthy and alert fawn alone and to walk away. Chances are the parents have left to forage for food and water.