Spring is the season when wildlife—from birds to deer to alligators—bear their young, often in locations that are more suitable to humans than animals. Experts say that with a few exceptions and some preparation, coexisting with these creatures is usually easy and often enjoyable.
Leave It Alone
Finding a nest or baby animal? Wildlife experts advise leaving it alone. Removing a nest can be illegal under federal law. If a bird has nested in an unusual spot, homeowners should call their local wildlife agency for advice, said Beth Quillian, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Besides birds, people often find deer fawns curled up in a corner of their yard or near an air conditioning unit. The fawn may appear abandoned, but Quillian explained that the doe typically hides her baby while foraging. “That is to protect the fawn, to leave it there, sometimes hours at a time, but the doe will come back to that fawn, and that is natural and normal,” she said. People should leave fawns alone unless there are clear signs they need help.
Protective Parents
As cute as the animals may appear, people should remember that wildlife can be dangerous. Ducks are docile on the nest, but Canada geese and swans can be aggressive, said John Coluccy of Ducks Unlimited. A goose can knock a person to the ground and hit them hard enough to break a bone. “They’re very, very aggressive. They’re long-lived and they protect their reproductive investment very vigorously,” Coluccy said.
Quillian noted that in parts of the West, people may encounter elk calves, usually in forested and coastal areas, but possibly near homes. Elk can weigh 500 pounds (225 kilograms) or more, and cow elk are incredibly protective of their young. “It’s amazing to see wildlife, but we have to give them distance, respect their space, especially when they have young,” she said.
In Florida, alligators breed and nest from April to June. Female alligators often build nests that resemble piles of leaves near ponds, retention basins, and ditches. They aggressively guard their nests, often while hiding in water nearby, said Darian Dowse, Animal Care Manager at the North Florida Wildlife Center. The key is to keep your distance from leaf mounds and keep dogs on sidewalks, away from shorelines. People with concerns should call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Dealing with Problems
Sometimes animals like raccoons, squirrels, or foxes will hole up with their young in inconvenient spots, such as in a covered boat. One humane solution is to install a shop lamp to flood the area with light, said Tami Vogel, executive director of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota. A mother will usually move her young within a couple of days. People can also install metal mesh to close off sheds and decks. Vogel said the center staff try to educate people about their options: “We want them to know we’re here as a safety net and what to look for if something goes wrong, and then the good news is, two weeks later, their neighbor may have a similar situation and they can pass along that information.”
What About Pets?
Dogs and cats are predators, so the key is to keep them close. In Minnesota, Caitlin Deal, whose family has hosted a nesting mallard named Martha for four years, said a big concern was her dog Piper, who loves to chase animals. The family kept Piper on a leash, and Martha didn’t seem to mind. Rabbits are incredibly prolific in the Midwest and are one of the most common subjects of calls to the Minnesota center, in part because they nest in yards, said spokesperson Brittney Yohannes. The center recommends placing a laundry basket over a nest during the day to keep dogs away, and removing it near evening so the mother can tend to her young. “One of the best pieces of advice I can give is just understanding that that period of coexisting with this nest or this family will be temporary,” Yohannes said.
