With the limited human activity around the state this spring, wildlife is showing up in areas previously avoided. Consequently, there is a good chance you’ll see newborn wildlife as well. These young elk, deer, pronghorn and other babies are charismatic and an incredible sight to view and photograph. At the same time, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department urges people who come across young animals to leave newborn wildlife alone and keep a distance. Will Schultz, Game and Fish biologist says, “With all animals, the first few weeks of life are the most critical in determining their survival and interference from humans can most definitely put their lives at risk.” People who find young animals without a mother nearby often assume the newborns have been abandoned, but this is almost never the case. The mothers know where their young are and will almost certainly return to care for them. Additionally, getting too close to newborn wildlife can be very dangerous. A mother bear, bison, moose and even deer will display aggressive behavior when humans get close to their young.
Credit: USFWS / Ture Schultz, National Elk Refuge volunteer
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