Now that springtime is finally here, most of us are spending more time outdoors - mowing the grass, gardening, landscaping, hiking or fishing. The local animal populations are quite busy too, looking for mates, building a nest or searching for a den, and raising their young. During our outdoor activities at this time of the year, we sometimes encounter some of those baby animals. Usually it is a baby bird on the ground or possibly a nest full of baby rabbits that is discovered, and our first thought is that the seemingly abandoned baby animal is an orphan in need of human assistance. Occasionally this is true, but most of the time it is not. Lending a helping hand could actually be the worse thing you could do.

Most baby animals that are seen are actually being watched from somewhere nearby by a watchful and caring mother. Baby birds often fall or are pushed out of the nest by the parents before they are completely able to fly. This is part of their training and the mother bird then cares for the fledging youngster while it is on the ground. It will soon be strong enough to fend for itself.

Cottontail rabbits build their nest by forming a slight depression in the ground and then lining it with bits of their own fur. Mother rabbits spend most of their time away from the nest, returning only occasionally to nurse the young. This helps to detract a predator's attention away from the nest. Nests are usually well-concealed in tall grass and weeds. Once again the mother is nearby carefully watching.

When a baby animal is found, you should normally not attempt to pick it up and try to help it unless the young animal is very obviously weak or in poor health. Almost always it is fine and the mother will return soon, but only if you leave. As long as you are there, the mother will be too frightened to return. The best policy is to look and enjoy from a distance only, but strictly hands off!