The Best Help is No Help: Why You Should Never Touch Young Wild Animals in Saskatchewan

Picture this: you're out enjoying a walk in nature – maybe a hike through the woods, a stroll by a pond, or even just exploring your backyard – and there, nestled amongst the grass or peeking out from under a bush, is a tiny, seemingly helpless baby animal. A fawn, perhaps, spotted and delicate, or a fluffy little rabbit, eyes wide with what looks like fear. It's an instinctive reaction for many of us, isn't it? That immediate urge to help, to scoop it up, to protect it from the world.

But here's a crucial piece of advice, one that often goes against our best intentions: resist that urge. Seriously, as hard as it might be, wildlife officials right here in Saskatchewan are pleading with residents to simply look, appreciate, and then leave these young creatures exactly where they are. Don't touch them, don't try to move them, and certainly don't attempt to "rescue" them.

You see, most of the time, that little animal isn't abandoned or in distress. More often than not, its mother is incredibly close by, just out of sight. Think about it: a doe might leave her fawn hidden while she forages for food, knowing its natural camouflage and stillness are its best defense. A mother rabbit might only visit her burrow a couple of times a day to feed her kits, specifically to avoid drawing attention to their vulnerable location. It's a clever, instinctual strategy designed to keep their babies safe from predators.

When a human intervenes, even with the kindest heart, we inadvertently do more harm than good. Our scent, which to us might be a pleasant perfume or simply "clean," is a stark alarm bell to many wild mothers. Once a young animal carries that human scent, its own mother might, heartbreakingly, reject it. It’s a tough truth, but our interference can lead to the very abandonment we were trying to prevent.

Beyond the risk of abandonment, there are other dangers. For us, a concerned mother animal could become defensive, and while a baby deer might seem harmless, a protective mother certainly isn't. There's also the very real, though often overlooked, possibility of transmitting diseases between animals and humans, and vice versa. We really don't want to get into that, do we?

So, what’s the right thing to do if you encounter a seemingly solitary young creature? The best, most responsible action is to simply observe from a respectful distance. Take a quick photo if you must, but then move on, giving the mother space and time to return. If, and only if, you genuinely believe an animal is injured or truly orphaned – perhaps you've seen the mother deceased, or the animal is clearly in distress for an extended period – then it's time to call in the experts. Reach out to Saskatchewan's Turn In Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) line or a local, licensed wildlife rehabilitation centre. They have the knowledge and resources to assess the situation properly.

In the end, our greatest act of kindness towards these beautiful wild beings is often simply to leave them be. Let nature take its course, trust the mothers, and give wildlife the space and respect they need to thrive. It's about understanding their world, not imposing ours.