What to do if you Find a Baby Animal in our Parks
Spring and early summer mark a magical time in the Credit River Watershed: baby animal season. From hidden fawns nestled along a trail’s edge to fledging birds testing their wings, warm weather brings a surge of new wildlife to our conservation areas.
While these encounters can be exciting, it’s important to know how to respond to ensure the well-being of wildlife in our watershed. Here are some tips to remember if you come across a baby animal while exploring our parks.
Baby Animals in Spring
Many wildlife species including deer, rabbits, birds and foxes give birth during the spring and early summer months. While out in nature, it’s common to come across young animals that seem to be alone or abandoned. However, in most cases they’re not orphaned.
For deer, the mother often leaves her young, known as a fawn, hidden in a grassy area while she forages for food. The mother will return periodically to nurse the fawn.
Young birds will also spend time on the ground while they learn to fly, with their parents nearby watching while searching for food.
What to do and not do
- Watch Quietly from a Distance: Stay back and quietly observe the animal to see if it appears active, alert and free of injuries. Most of the time, it’s fine and its parents are nearby, even if you can’t see them.
- Look for Red Flags: Look for any visible injuries. Is it limping, cold, covered in insects or crying out continuously? These signs may be indicators that the animal truly needs help.
- Reach Out to an Expert: When in doubt at one of our parks, inform a CVC staff member and they can investigate the situation to determine if the animal requires further intervention. If you are not located in our parks, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal control. Visit our frequently asked questions page about wildlife for a list of animal control services in the Credit River Watershed.
- Limit Contact: Unless directed by animal control, don’t touch or move the baby animal. Human contact can cause stress and may interfere with its chance of survival in the wild, like bonding with its mother. If you must handle an animal, here’s how to do it properly while limiting contact.
- Don’t Offer Food or Water: As tempting as it might be to offer the animal food or water, doing so incorrectly can harm them. Only trained specialists should provide food and water.
Respecting Wildlife in Conservation Areas
While visiting our parks, be mindful of your impact on the animals that call these spaces home. Here’s how to help:
- Give Animals Space: Use your eyes or camera zoom to admire wildlife from a distance. Getting too close can frighten animals or interrupt their natural behaviour.
- Stay on Paths: Trails are designed to protect both people and wildlife. Wandering off marked paths can damage habitats or disturb nests hidden in foliage.
- Keep Pets on a Leash: Even the friendliest of pets can pose a threat to wild animals. Keep pets on a leash for their safety and the safety of other park visitors.
- Pack Out What You Pack In: Garbage and leftover food can be dangerous for animals, not to mention unsightly to park visitors. Whatever you bring into the park, please take out with you.
Learn more about visitor rules in conservation areas.
Join us: Help Protect the Balance of Nature
Spring brings the joy of new life, but it also calls for greater care and awareness from those who share the outdoors with wildlife.
Understanding how to respond when you encounter a baby animal and how to respect their space, helps protect the delicate balance of nature. Every small act of respect contributes to the well-being of our local ecosystems.
For additional key information about wildlife encounters, visit the Toronto Wildlife Centre website.
Learn more about wildlife in the watershed at our nature and wildlife page or connect with us.
By Kimberley Laird, Associate, Marketing and Communications