Leave young wildlife in the wild

Each year, well-intentioned people mistake an animal by itself as permanently abandoned or orphaned and remove it from the wild to "save" it. Instead, this action drastically reduces the animal’s lifespan. An animal removed from the wild misses the chance to learn where to seek cover, what to eat and how to escape from predators and other dangers—behaviors that humans who raise wildlife, even in the best circumstances, cannot teach.

When wildlife biologists get the call that someone has picked a young animal up, the advice is always the same: Put it back. The best thing you can do is just to leave it alone and don't let your pets near it.

The outcome of a life in the wild is so much better than in captivity that ODFW will try to foster calves, fawns and ducklings removed from the wild with other herds or flocks—putting the young animal back in the wild with a herd or flock that isn't its own in hopes that another animal will raise it.

One way you can help wildlife is to keep your pets away. Domestic and feral cats kill millions of birds each year—and a fledgling learning to fly is the most vulnerable to a cat. Deer and elk see dogs as a threat to their young so they may act aggressively in response.

Wildlife can also harm people once they are picked up. A male deer fawn that weighs under 8 pounds at birth can grow to 280 pounds. Deer and elk are naturally wary of humans—but if removed from the wild and raised by people they lose that fear and can go on to behave aggressively and threaten people.

What are the laws about picking up wildlife?

Because of the damage it can do to both wildlife and people, removing an animal from the wild is illegal under Oregon wildlife laws. (ORS 497.308 – No person shall remove from its natural habitat or acquire and hold in captivity any live wildlife in violation of the wildlife laws.)

It’s considered a Class A Misdemeanor. Penalties are always decided by a court, but the maximum penalty for a Class A Misdemeanor is a year in jail and $6,250 fine.

This law is in place to protect people, too. Wildlife can also harm people once they are picked up. A male deer fawn that weighs under 8 pounds at birth can grow to 280 pounds. Deer and elk are naturally wary of humans—but if removed from the wild and raised by people they lose that fear and can go on to behave aggressively and threaten people. 

View current list of permitted Wildlife Rehabilitation Care Providers here

Local and regional ODFW offices

Injured and Young Wildlife Frequently Asked Questions

What should you do if you see a sick, injured and truly orphaned animal?

Call ODFW, OSP or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator first before picking up or moving any wildlife.

What should you do if you see a young animal alone?

Leave it where it is, keep your distance and do not disturb. Most animals leave their young to forage or hunt. Removing a young animal from the wild is illegal and greatly reduces the animal's chance of survival.

If you see a bear or cougar, contact ODFW or OSP. Do not attempt to assist it or assume that it has been abandoned.

Removing or "capturing" wildlife from the wild and keeping it in captivity without a permit is against the law. It is considered a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $6,250 fine.

Why can't I just pick it up and take it home to care for it?
Wild animals belong in the wild. Feeding an animal the wrong food could harm or kill it. In captivity, animals lose the chance to learn critical survival skills such as where to find food and shelter and how to escape from predators. They are much less likely to survive once returned to the wild. Keeping an animal also habituates it to people. Animals that lose their natural fear of people can be dangerous.

What happens to young animals that are removed from the wild?
ODFW first assesses the animal's heath. Animals with a good chance of survival may be placed with licensed wildlife rehabilitation facilities with the intent that they will be returned to the wild.
Occasionally, a young animal that can't be returned to the wild is sent to a zoo or appropriate facility if one can be found. Sick and injured animals that can't be returned to the wild may be euthanized.

What if you see a fawn or elk calf by itself?
In spring, Oregon's deer and elk give birth to their young and you may see a fawn or calf alone. Do not approach it and leave the area. Mothers leave their young for extended periods to feed and so they don't draw attention to them. Fawns and calves are generally safe from predators because of their lack of scent and their protective coloring. Your presence and your human scent may frighten the mother away and endanger young.

What if you see a young bird on the ground?
Leave it where you found it. If it is young and you are concerned that it fell from the nest too early, you may try to return it to its nest, if possible. A feathered fledgling bird may spend weeks on the ground as it learns to fly; its parents will feed it there. A fledgling may be returned to the nest if there are cats or dogs in the area, but it will probably be back on the ground quickly. Keep pets confined or indoors at this time. Visit the Bird Alliance of Oregon website for more information.

What if a bird flies into a window and appears hurt?
Birds don't recognize glass and are confused by reflective surfaces, causing them occasionally to fly into windows. If you find a bird that has been stunned as a result of hitting a window, put the bird in an uncovered box. Keep it in a quiet place outdoors away from pets and check back in a couple of hours. If the bird has recovered, it will have flown off. If not, contact a local ODFW office or your local wildlife rehabilitator.

What should you do if you see a seal pup on the beach?
Young seals are often left on the beach while mothers feed in the ocean. Don't touch, feed or try to move it. Stay back at least 100 yards and make sure dogs are leashed. Adult and young marine mammals will commonly rest alone on rocks or on the beach. Marine mammal strandings should be reported to OSP's hotline at 1-800-452-7888.

What if you see young rabbits, raccoons and squirrels alone? Leave them alone. Almost always, the mother knows where they are. Often times, mothers return at dusk or during the night to feed them.

More information is available on the MyODFW Living with Wildlife Web pages.

How can I help wildlife during a drought or heatwave?

The same rules apply even during hot, dry summer months—it’s best to leave wildlife alone. That includes not feeding them, so don’t provide food or water.

Leaving out water or food for wildlife will attract them to your yard—and bring other problems like predators or disease. Feeding deer and elk could draw cougars or coyotes, and feeding any wildlife concentrates animals and makes them more vulnerable to a disease outbreak—including zoonotic diseases that can spread to people, too. Feeding also makes wildlife less afraid of people, which puts both the animal and people at risk.

Here's how to help instead:

• Keeping pets and other domestic animals away is a better way to help wildlife this time of year. Pets will stress wildlife so keep them inside and away, especially if there are young wildlife or fledgling birds in your yard.
• Let vegetation grow and delay trimming of any trees or bushes, especially ones with a bird nest.
• Make sure your birdfeeders aren’t feeding other wildlife. Birdfeeders can attract unwelcome visitors, so remove them if there are bear or racoon problems in your area. You can also try hanging feeders from a wire at least 10 feet off the ground and 6 to 10 feet from the trunk of tree.
• Remove fruit that has fallen from trees and secure your garbage cans so bears and racoons can’t get into them. More tips to help keep bears wild.
• Keep birdfeeders clean. A record number of pine siskins and other birds have died in years past in Oregon and the Pacific NW due to a salmonella outbreak. Take feeders down for several weeks if there are deaths at your feeder.
• How you can help wildlife impacted by forest fires.

How to obtain a Wildlife Rehabilitation permit?

New permit	Existing permit holder	Rules and Regulations
New applicants contact: Wildlife.Permits@ODFW.oregon.gov for more information. FAQs about ODFW wildlife rehabilitation permits (pdf) ODFW office contact list	Renewal Link Continuing Education Credit List (pdf) Sub-permittee form (pdf) Reporting Link	Div 62 rules – Rehabilitation Div 56 rules – Prohibited species USFWS Federal Migratory Bird Rehabilitation permit details for ducks, geese and other migratory birds

Other information:

• Acceptable management practices for bat control activities in structures (pdf)
• National White-Nose Syndrome Decontamination Protocol (pdf)
• White-nosed syndrome fact sheet (pdf)
• White-nosed syndrome brochure (pdf)
• Oregon threatened and endangered species List (pdf)
• Sensitive species information (pdf)
• Most common rehabbed species (pdf)
• National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association minimum standards (pdf)
• Sensitive species lists (pdf)
• OSP Fish & Wildlife Division