Look, but don't touch wildlife

Originally published in LEO on May 17, 2000 • Updated with modern guidance in 2026

From The Pet Guy Archives

Spring is one of the busiest seasons for wildlife. As baby rabbits, squirrels, birds, and other young animals begin exploring the world, well-meaning people often mistake them for being orphaned or abandoned. In this 2000 column, Jeff Seidenfaden explains why our first instinct should usually be to observe—not intervene—and offers practical advice for protecting wildlife while respecting nature.

Although wildlife rehabilitation practices have evolved over the years, the most important message remains unchanged: the best way to help most wild animals is often to leave them alone.

Editor's Note

This article is presented as originally published in May 2000. Wildlife rehabilitation laws, recommended rescue procedures, and guidance from state wildlife agencies have evolved since publication. If you encounter an injured or truly orphaned wild animal today, contact your state's wildlife agency or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before attempting to rescue or raise the animal yourself.

Original 2000 Column

The following article is transcribed from the original publication with only minor formatting changes for online readability.

One of the greatest things about this time of the year is the scurry of activity outdoors. Backyard wildlife flourishes as plants and flowers grow and bloom. This is also the time when many folks will be faced with the burden of what to do with orphaned squirrels, rabbits and birds. From tree trimming to lawn mowing, humans quite often disrupt the natural progression of baby animals. Many rabbits will have their nests destroyed by lawn equipment, and many baby squirrels won't make it across the road. Here are some things to think about regarding the preservation and protection of wildlife in your area.

It will come as no surprise when I say that nature seems to do much better without the interference of people. If you stumble upon a bird nest or a nesting group of rabbits, LEAVE THEM ALONE! It is not an ideal learning experience to round up the family to show this discovery. Any human interference can be the difference between life and death for wildlife. While you should never disrupt a nest, it is a good idea to instruct the family on how to behave regarding this little prize of nature. Get a book and show your kids what baby birds, squirrels, rabbits, etc. look like. Teach them about the care the mother must take to help ensure the babies' survival. Children should be taught to respect animals in the wild.

It may be fun to find a window that overlooks the area where the babies are. If you spend time watching, you will see feeding, cleaning and grooming patterns. Don't try to help by providing food for bunnies. Items that are not readily available in the wild will only harm them later in life because it will take away the need to find food. Baby animals, of course, should never be touched. Take caution if you must move an animal's nest. This should only be done when the original site is in danger or not permanent (such as nests built in tents or on equipment stored outside). In these circumstances, you should pick a new place prior to handling the nest and make sure it is within a few feet of where it was built. It's also a good idea to wear rubber gloves to mask the human scent. Please realize that in most situations, the mom will leave the nest and may never come back.

If you ever run over a rabbit nest with the lawn mower, you may think you have killed the mother. Hair will fly, and it may seem as though the babies are doomed. In most cases, the mom is not actually at the nest when this happens. The hair you see is what she has built the nest with. The mother only visits her bunnies a few times a day for feeding. The other time is spent hunting for proper feeding areas safely away from humans. If you move a rabbit nest without ever seeing the mom, you have most certainly doomed the babies. It is best to cover the nest back with whatever hair is left and hope for the best.

It is also important to realize that this is nature. There is a food chain, and as horrible as it may be, there are other animals that will benefit due to the demise of another. One of the hardest things to do is to care for baby wild animals. Not only do they have to eat every few hours, but they need other special care. Talk with your veterinarian for a recommendation if you must raise baby animals. Also, remember it will be hard to release them into the wild once they have lost their fear of humans, so it's important not to play with them. If you are taking the responsibility of caring for orphaned wildlife, do the responsible thing and work toward ultimately releasing the animal(s) back into the wild.

During the next few weeks I will include more information about caring for and protecting wild animals.

Look, but don't touch wildlife: The Pet Guy Perspective Today

This may be one of the most important wildlife messages I've ever written.

Every spring, wildlife rehabilitators receive countless calls about baby rabbits sitting quietly in the grass, young birds hopping on the ground, or squirrels that appear to be alone. In many cases, these animals are behaving exactly as nature intended, and their parents are nearby waiting for people to leave before returning.

One recommendation has evolved since this article was originally published. Today, wildlife professionals generally advise contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before moving a nest or handling young wildlife whenever possible. While there are situations where relocating a nest a short distance may be appropriate, every species has unique needs, and expert guidance can dramatically improve an animal's chances of survival.

The heart of this article, however, remains just as relevant today. Our desire to help animals is admirable, but helping doesn't always mean intervening. Sometimes the greatest act of compassion is allowing wildlife to remain wild while giving nature the space to work as it has for thousands of years.

Continue Reading in The Pet Guy Archives

This article is part of The Pet Guy Archives, a growing collection of Jeff Seidenfaden's original newspaper columns preserving decades of trusted pet care advice, memorable animal stories, and practical guidance for pet owners.

Explore more articles covering wildlife, dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, exotic pets, and responsible pet ownership.

About The Pet Guy Archives

The Pet Guy Archives preserve the original newspaper columns written by Jeff Seidenfaden, nationally recognized pet expert, television host, newspaper columnist, and animal advocate. Originally published beginning in the 1990s, these articles have been carefully restored for today's readers while preserving the original voice and perspective of each column.

About the Author

Jeff Seidenfaden is an entrepreneur, former television host, newspaper columnist, and lifelong animal advocate best known as The Pet Guy. For more than three decades, he has educated pet owners through television, newspapers, radio, public appearances, and community outreach, helping families build happier, healthier relationships with their pets.