OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — People who find a fawn or baby seal in the wild are tempted to “rescue” them.
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department says don’t do it; leave them alone.
Spokeswoman Madonna Luers says people often needlessly rescue animals that likely aren’t orphaned.
The department doesn’t have the funding to care for such animals, so it relies on nonprofit rescue operations statewide.
The Olympian reports (http://is.gd/J8tl1L ) one is For Heaven’s Sake near Rochester. The operators, David and Claudia Supensky, took in about 300 animals last year, including 35 fawns. They are kept away from people as much as possible to avoid imprinting, so they can be released back into the wild. Deer that become tame may have to be euthanized.
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Information from: The Olympian, http://www.theolympian.com
