Published: April 20, 2008 01:24 am         

Harboring wildlife illegal, dangerous

Whether hiking in the woods, driving through the countryside or simply enjoying nature, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials encourage outdoor enthusiasts to leave wildlife alone and not remove animals from the wild, especially young of the year.

“Being outdoors in the spring is an enjoyable way to spend time and learn more about nature,” said Calvin W. DuBrock, Bureau of Wildlife Management director. “In the coming months, it will become common to find young deer, rabbits, birds, raccoons or other wildlife that may appear to be abandoned. Rest assured that in most cases, the young animal is not an orphan or abandoned and the best thing you can do is to leave it alone.”

DuBrock noted that adult animals often leave their young to forage for food. Also, wildlife often relies on a natural defensive tactic called the "hider strategy," where young animals will remain motionless and hide in surrounding cover while adults draw the attention of predators or other intruders away from their young.

“While it may appear as if the adults are abandoning their young, in reality, this is just the animal using its natural instincts to protect its young,” DuBrock said. “Nature also protects young animals with camouflaging color and by giving them little scent to avoid being detected by predators.

“Wild animals are not meant to be pets, and we must all resist our well-meaning and well-intentioned urge to want to care for wildlife. Taking wildlife from its natural settings and into your home may expose or transmit to people or domestic animals wildlife diseases. Wildlife also may carry parasites — such as fleas, ticks or lice — that you wouldn't want infesting you, your family, your home or your pets.”

DuBrock noted that, each year, people ignore this advice by taking wildlife into their homes and then are urged to undergo treatment for possible exposure to various wildlife-borne diseases, such as rabies.

“In nearly all cases, people’s well-meaning and well-intentioned actions still require that the animal be put down in the interest of protecting public health,” he said. “Unfortunately, pop-culture has instilled in people a certain stereotype of what a rabid animal looks like. And, while some animals will act vicious and even foam at the mouth, many times an infected animal will be quiet and still, appear uncoordinated or may be found dead. Handling these animals still can result in exposure to rabies and require someone to undergo treatment as a precaution, especially if the animal can’t be captured for testing.”

In addition to protecting public health, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Protection Director Rich Palmer said that the agency also is concerned with wildlife implications from humans handling wildlife.

“Habituation to humans is a serious concern, as wildlife that loses its natural fear of humans can pose a public safety risk,” Palmer said. “For example, last year, a yearling, six-point buck attacked and severely injured a Clinton County couple. Our investigation discovered evidence and witness testimony that a family who lived near the victims had illegally harbored and fed the deer as a fawn, and had continued to do so up until the time of the attack.

“This particular incident was the subject of numerous news stories around the state, and serve as a dangerously fitting example of the possible negative side-effects of feeding or simply getting to close to wildlife.”

In addition, Palmer noted that it is illegal to take or possess wildlife from the wild. Under state law, the penalty for such a violation is a fine of up to $1,500 per animal.

“Under no circumstances will anyone who illegally takes wildlife into captivity be allowed to keep that animal,” Palmer said. “While residents love to view wildlife and are very compassionate, they must enjoy wildlife from a distance and allow nature to run its course.”

Palmer also pointed out that, under a working agreement with state health officials, any high-risk rabies vector species confiscated must be euthanized and tested rather than relocated. Though any mammal may carry rabies, species identified in the agreement are: skunks, raccoons, foxes, bats, coyotes and groundhogs.

“Except for some species of bats, populations of all other rabies vector species are thriving,” Palmer said.