Motto: If you care, leave young wildlife there

Hands off.

State wildlife officials are reminding Northeast Oregonians that the best way to care for the many fawns, elk calves, young birds and other baby animals they are now finding is to leave the animals in the wild.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon State Police and the state’s licensed wildlife rehabilitators are urging people to live by the motto “If you care, leave them there” and leave young animals in the wild. This is the time of year when Oregon’s wildlife give birth to their young, and parents will temporarily and naturally leave their young to feed elsewhere.

“Only if you see the parent dead or dying should you assume a young animal by itself is orphaned,” said ODFW State Wildlife Veterinarian Colin Gillin in a story on the ODFW’s website. “If you encounter this situation, or see an animal clearly in distress or danger, contact your local ODFW or OSP office, or a wildlife rehabilitation center.”

Removing or “capturing” animals from the wild and keeping them in captivity without a permit is considered Class A misdemeanors in Oregon. It’s punishable by up to one year in jail and a $6,250 fine, according to the ODFW. Holding some birds and marine mammals are also violations of federal laws.

Many well-intentioned people who “rescue’’ baby animals are unable to provide an appropriate diet for the animals, so they can suffer malnourishment and even death. The animals that do live miss out on the chance to learn things like how to avoid predators and find food, so they don’t survive when reintroduced into the wild.

Officials also offer the following tips for some of the frequently “rescued’’ Oregon wildlife species.

• Baby birds: Nestlings (baby birds not fully feathered) can be gently and quickly returned to the nest. If the nest is out of reach, place the bird on an elevated branch or fence, out of the reach of children or pets. Leave the area so the parents can return.

• Deer: Fawns often are left for several hours at a time, but are well adapted to their surroundings. Unless you see the parent killed, it is safe to presume the doe is nearby. In fact, your presence could be keeping the doe away.

• Raccoons and squirrels: Animal rehabilitation facilities often get overloaded with squirrels and raccoons each spring. Raccoons are a major transmitter of diseases dangerous to people and pets. Raccoons and squirrels are highly adaptive animals, and many of their babies that appear too young to make it on their own are capable of surviving.