the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ho-Ho-Kus NJ, according to NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife in the spring and summer months, you may find what appears to be sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife urges you to leave young wildlife undisturbed. Every year, especially around this time, the lives of many young animals are disrupted. Well-intentioned people may attempt to “save” these animals while most often, the mother is nearby.
If you find a young fawn laying alone, leave it where it is. Fawns that are not strong enough on their legs are left alone while the adult deer spend much of the day feeding and exploring. The mother comes back several times each day to nurse the fawn. If you’ve already picked the fawn up and brought it home, put it back. Even one or two days after removal from the wild, fawns can reunite with their mothers by returning them to where they were found. Usually young fawns are quite safe because their color pattern and lack of scent help them to remain hidden until their mother’s return.
For more information on what to do if you find young wildlife, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/bornwild.htm
List of licensed wildlife rehabilitators: www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/rehab_list.pdf
Please remember that it is illegal to attempt to keep wild animals as pets in New Jersey.