Every spring in Iowa, wildlife baby season arrives right on schedule. From early May through mid-June, Department of Natural Resources offices across the state are flooded with calls from concerned residents who believe they’ve found orphaned animals.
The stories usually sound familiar: someone was walking through a park, mowing a lawn, or looking out a window when they spotted a lone baby animal. Whether it’s a fawn curled up in tall grass, a nest of baby rabbits, or a young bird on the ground, the immediate assumption is often the same—it must have been abandoned and needs help.
Because baby wildlife is undeniably cute and vulnerable-looking, people naturally want to step in. But in most cases, these animals are not actually orphaned. Their parents are usually nearby, even if they aren’t visible.
Many species raise their young in ways that can be easily misunderstood. Songbirds, for example, often leave the nest before they can fly well, spending several days hopping on the ground while their parents continue to feed and protect them. Mammals like deer and rabbits commonly leave their young hidden in safe spots during the day while the mother searches for food, returning regularly to care for them.
What looks like abandonment is actually normal behavior in the wild. The young are not left alone permanently—they are simply being raised in a way that reduces the risk of predators noticing them.
Unfortunately, well-meaning attempts to “rescue” these animals often do more harm than good. Once removed from their environment, wildlife babies can quickly become stressed. Handling, noise, and unfamiliar surroundings can cause shock, and improper care often leads to illness or death. Even with good intentions, humans are rarely able to provide the specific nutrition and conditions wild animals need to survive.
In addition to the biological risks, it’s important to remember that taking healthy wildlife from the wild is generally not permitted. Wildlife laws exist to protect both animals and ecosystems.
The best approach is usually simple: observe from a distance and leave the animal where it is. In most cases, the parent is nearby and will return once humans are gone.
For situations where an animal appears truly injured or in distress, licensed wildlife rehabilitators are trained to help. A list of these professionals is available online through state resources.
Seeing wildlife babies in spring is a special experience, and watching them grow in their natural environment is one of the best ways to appreciate them—without interfering with the natural process that keeps them alive.
https://www.iowadnr.gov/news-release/2026-05-05/leave-wildlife-babies-where-they-belong-wild
