From the June 2008 issue

DEC Offers Tips for Encounters with Wildlife

DEC reminds New Yorkers to keep their distance and not to disturb newborn fawns or other young wildlife as many animals are in the peak season for giving birth or hatching young. Also, coyotes begin raising their pups and are seen more frequently this time of year. DEC offers suggestions to prevent conflicts with them.

Leave Young Wildlife Alone!

These young birds may look helpless but resist the urge to help or "adopt" it

In the warm months, it is not unusual to see a young bird crouched in the yard or a young rabbit in the flower garden, seemingly motherless. Finding a fawn lying by itself is also fairly common. Many people assume that young wildlife found alone are abandoned, helpless and need our assistance for their survival. In nearly all cases, this is a mistake, and typically human interaction does more damage than good. If you have the good fortune to see a fawn or other newborn wildlife, enjoy your encounter but keep it brief and maintain some distance.

Young wildlife quickly venture into the world on shaky legs or fragile wings. While most are learning survival from one or both parents, some normally receive little or no parental care. Often wild animal parents stay away from their young when people are near. For all of these young animals, the perils of survival are a natural part of life in the wild. Some will not survive. However, young wildlife that learn well and are the most fit usually live the longest.

Fawns are Rarely Abandoned

White-tailed deer fawns present a good example of how human intervention with young wildlife can cause problems. Most fawns are born during late May and the first half of June. While fawns are able to walk shortly after birth, they spend most of their first several days lying still. During this period, a fawn is also usually left alone by its mother except when nursing. People do occasionally find a lone fawn and mistakenly assume it has been orphaned or abandoned, which is very rare. In such cases, fawns should not be picked up. In fact, if human presence is detected by the doe, the doe will delay its next visit to nurse. Human scent can also put the fawn at risk by attracting predators to the site.

A fawn's best chance to survive lies in being raised by its mother. Fawns nurse three to four times a day, usually for less then 30 minutes at a time, but otherwise the doe keeps her distance. This helps reduce the chances that she will attract a predator to the fawn. The fawn's protective coloration, near lack of scent, and ability to remain motionless all help it avoid detection by predators and people.

If You Care...

Should you find a fawn or other young wildlife, please remember: "If you care, leave it there. "It may be difficult to do, but this is the real act of kindness. and in nearly all cases, the best thing to do. Do not consider young wildlife as possible pets. This is illegal and bad for the animal. Furthermore, wild animals do not make good pets; they are not well suited for life in captivity and may carry diseases that can be given to people. Resist the temptation to take them out of the wild.

For more information and answers to frequently asked questions about young wildlife, please see DEC's Care of Young Wildlife web page.

Preventing Conflict with Coyotes

DEC estimates that there are currently about 30,000 coyotes statewide. As coyotes become more adapted to living near people, hearing or seeing coyotes may become more common. These increased sightings should not be interpreted as aggressive behavior. A coyote seen in overgrown fields, brushy areas, woodlands, or habitats in between these areas of natural cover is normal.

Coyotes live throughout upstate New York and are seen in both developed and rural areas. April through June is the peak of their pup-rearing activity, and coyotes have a high demand for food at this time of the year. Residents are more likely to see coyotes because of their increased activity in our environment, and homeowners should take sensible precautions to avoid attracting coyotes to their property.

Coyote Tips

You are more likely to see a coyote at this time of year as they have young and are looking for food

DEC has issued the following recommendations to reduce the chances of a negative encounter with a coyote:

Never feed or attempt to get close to a coyote.
Keep pets under control and be sure not to leave them out at night. Coyotes may kill or injure a pet, especially small dogs and cats. Walk your dog on a leash and accompany your pet outside, especially at night. Provide secure shelters for poultry, rabbits, and other vulnerable animals.
Control other sources of food that may attract a coyote-coyotes that rely on wild food sources remain wild and wary of people. Keep your trash secure and compost bins covered. Stop feeding birds as soon as the snow melts and clean up all seed fragments and shells left over from winter feeding as the smell may attract coyotes. Keep dog and cat food bowls inside.
Coyotes like areas where they can hide, yet still be near food. You can help deter coyotes by thinning brushy areas in your yard and closing off crawl spaces. Coyotes may use areas under outbuildings for resting or raising young.
If others in your neighborhood are attracting coyotes, tell them about the hazards posed by coyotes and ask them to take the measures recommended above.

Give Them Room

Never try to get close to a coyote. Any coyote that shows unusual boldness or acts tame should be avoided. Coyote attacks directed towards people have occurred in the western United States, and aggressive coyote behavior has also been reported in the eastern United States and in New York State.

Should anyone notice a coyote acting strangely or causing a nuisance, call the nearest regional DEC office to report the animal. For more information on coyotes and preventing conflicts with coyotes in New York State, visit DEC's Coyote Conflicts web page.