Montana Officials Remind: Leave Baby Animals Alone

Every spring, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) fields calls from well-meaning residents who’ve picked up baby animals found in towns, backyards, or the wild.

While it may feel like the right thing to do, state officials say it usually causes more harm than good.

The agency’s message is simple and clear: If you care, leave them there.

Why Baby Animals Are Left Alone

It’s natural for animals like deer and rabbits to leave their young alone for extended periods.

Unlike humans, many wild animals use separation as a survival strategy, keeping predators away from their vulnerable offspring.

FWP emphasizes that wildlife parents know what they’re doing, and their babies often aren’t abandoned at all.

Trying to “rescue” these animals not only disrupts their natural development, but can result in them being permanently removed from the wild—or worse, euthanized if they can’t be returned.

Health Risks and Legal Issues

Wild animals, especially babies like ground squirrels, raccoons, and rabbits, can also carry zoonotic diseases that are dangerous to humans, including tularemia, hemorrhagic diseases, and even plague.

FWP also reminds the public that it’s illegal to keep a wild animal as a pet.

Anyone who brings a baby deer or elk to wildlife officials will be asked to return it to the exact spot where it was found.

If that’s not possible, the animal may need to be euthanized for its safety and the public’s.

What You Can Do Instead

• Leave It Alone: Resist the urge to touch or move baby animals.
• Control Your Pets: Dogs can pose a serious threat to newborn wildlife and may even be euthanized by law if they harm protected animals.
• Know the Law: Possessing wild animals is illegal in Montana without a permit.

Ultimately, wildlife thrives best in the wild. So the next time you spot a fawn in the grass or a baby rabbit under a bush. Give them space, and trust nature to take care of its own.

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