Listen to this week’s radio segment here or read the transcript below. This week’s episode advises Iowans to steer clear of baby wild animals, even if they appear to be abandoned.

Think twice before you try and help a baby animal in the wild – leave them alone.

This is the Iowa Environmental Focus.

Every year during the late spring and early summer, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources receives dozens of phone calls from Iowans who have found what they believe is an abandoned baby animal. However, these concerned individuals are often mistaken.

Many species leave their offspring’s nest or den before the young can take care of themselves. This may make it seem like the baby animals are abandoned, but the parents actually continue to feed and protect them during this growth period.

If humans interfere, the baby animals may die from the shock of being handled, and they are at greater risk of becoming ill.

For more information, visit IowaEnvironmentalFocus.org.

I’m Jerry Schnoor from the UI Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research.

Thank You.