LEGALITY OF HELPING WILDLIFE: Helping baby animals 
could land you in hot water ... we tell you why on Passport 
to Texas. 

This is Passport to Texas

Spring is about reawakening, renewal, and baby animals. 
That last part - baby animals - can be tricky. You see, 
sometimes we find infant wildlife when we're outdoors, 
and want to "rescue" them, which might actually be more 
like kidnapping.

08 -- For example, a baby dear [or fawn] will hide quiet and mama 
will almost always come back. That's their strategy.

Jonah Evans, a mammalogist at Texas Parks and Wildlife, 
says unless an animal is injured or in distress, leave it 
alone. Monitor it at a safe distance if you're concerned, 
but even then ... 

06 -- I recommend, before touching an animal, call a rehabilitator 
and ask them.

Licensed rehabilitators know animal behavior and can 
provide guidance, which may also include instructions to 
leave the animal alone because of legal considerations. 

12 -- There are actually some regulations about possessing certain 
wildlife that you have to make sure you're not violating. Possessing 
a non-game animal without a license, could be in violation of 
certain laws.
 
You'll bypass a life of crime when you know who to call. 
Find a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators -- by county -- 
on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The WSFR program supports our series and funds diverse 
conservation projects in Texas. 

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I'm Cecilia Nasti.





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