NJ Fish and Wildlife urges New Jerseyans to leave young wildlife undisturbed. Young wildlife may appear to be abandoned, but it is likely that the mother is nearby. To prevent any unintentional harm, please contact a wildlife rehabilitator or your local animal control officer before interfering if you suspect an animal is truly abandoned or injured. It is unlawful for individuals without a valid Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit to possess injured, orphaned, or ill wildlife.

Young birds are sometimes found on the ground near a nest. When this happens, the best thing to do is to put the bird carefully back into the nest. Do not worry about getting your scent on the bird as it will not affect the mother’s care. If you cannot reach the nest, leave the bird on the ground. The best thing you can do to protect young wildlife is to keep cats indoors. Refer to the infographic on the right for information on what to do if you find a young bird.

Do not disturb young rabbits found at a nest site. A mother rabbit will not return if a person is standing near the nest. If you have kicked open a nest, replace the top of the nest and leave the area. The mother will return to care for the young. Cottontail rabbits leave their young for hours to eat but will return to the nest to nurse until the young are old enough to survive on their own. Young rabbits are ready to leave the nest at three to four weeks of age when their eyes are open and their bodies are furry.

When young raccoons are found alone, it is likely that they are merely exploring and that their mother is nearby. They are likely old enough to be fully capable of climbing back up a tree to their den. If they were too young to climb, the mother would carry them back.

If you find a young fawn lying alone, leave it there. Mothers come back several times each day to nurse their fawns. If you have already moved the fawn – put it back. Even after one or two days of removal from the wild, fawns have been successfully reunited with their mothers when they are returned where they were found. Adult deer spend much of the day feeding and loafing. Fawns that are not yet strong enough on their legs to keep up with adults are left alone but are quite safe as their color pattern and lack of scent help them remain undetected.

Additional Information

More information on Wildlife Rehabilitators in New Jersey: https://deptest.nj.gov/njfw/wildlife/rehabilitator-information/.

If you wish to help out a wildlife rehabilitator, consider donating from the Wildlife Rehabilitators Wish List .

Do Not Disturb – More ways to avoid unintended harm to wild animals.

Second Chance – A short film about an orphaned bear cub’s treatment and recovery that illustrates wildlife rehabilitation in NJ. (nj.com)