18-05-2025
PA Game Commission springtime alert: Leave young wildlife alone
May 17—Whether in their backyards or high on a mountain, it's almost certain Pennsylvanians will encounter young wildlife this time of year.
While some young animals might appear to be abandoned, usually they are not. It's likely their mothers are watching over them from somewhere nearby.
So when encountering young wild animals, whether deer, birds, raccoons or something else, the best thing you can do is leave them alone.
"During this time of year, it's common for people to see young wildlife and mistakenly assume that they are abandoned or in need of help," said Matthew Schnupp, the Game Commission's Bureau of Wildlife Management Director. "As well-intentioned as they are in trying to help these animals, the reality is that the mother is probably nearby and waiting for you to leave so she can return. The best approach when encountering any wildlife is to simply let them be."
Adult animals often leave their young while they forage for food, but they don't go far and they do return. Wildlife also often relies on a natural defensive tactic called the "hider strategy," where young animals will remain motionless and "hide" in surrounding cover while adults draw the attention of potential predators or other intruders away from their young.
Deer employ this strategy, and deer fawns sometimes are assumed to be abandoned when, in fact, their mothers are nearby.
The Game Commission urges Pennsylvanians to resist the urge to interfere with young wildlife or remove any wild animal from its natural setting.
Such contact can be harmful to both people and wildlife. Wild animals can lose their natural fear of humans, making it difficult, even impossible, for them to ever again live normally in the wild. And anytime wildlife is handled, there's always a risk people could contract diseases or parasites such as fleas, ticks and lice.
Wildlife that becomes habituated to humans also can pose a public-safety risk. Some years ago, a yearling, six-point buck attacked and severely injured two people. The investigation into the incident revealed that a neighboring family had illegally taken the deer into their home and fed it as a fawn, and they continued to feed the deer right up until the time of the attack.
It is illegal to take or possess wildlife from the wild. Under state law, the penalty for such a violation is a fine of up to $1,500 per animal.
Under no circumstances will anyone who illegally takes wildlife into captivity be allowed to keep that animal, and under a working agreement with state health officials, any "high risk" rabies vector species confiscated after human contact must be euthanized and tested — none can be returned to the wild because the risk of spreading disease is too high.
Animals infected with rabies might not show obvious symptoms, but still might be able to transmit the disease. Though any mammal might carry rabies, the rabies vector species identified in the agreement are: skunks, raccoons, foxes, bats, coyotes and groundhogs.
People can get rabies from the saliva of a rabid animal if they are bitten or scratched, or if the saliva gets into the person's eyes, mouth or a fresh wound.
Only wildlife rehabilitators, who are licensed by the Game Commission, are permitted to care for injured or orphaned wildlife for the purposes of eventual release back into the wild. For those who find wildlife that truly is in need of assistance, a listing of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators website,
If you are unable to identify a wildlife rehabilitator in your area, contact the Game Commission by phone at — 1-833-PGC-WILD or 1-833-PGC-HUNT.
PFBC celebrates National Safe Boating Week with statewide kickoff event
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is celebrating the upcoming National Safe Boating Week, which will occur May 17-23, with a statewide kick-off event at the PFBC's Fort Hunter Access along the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg (Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County).
During this special week, conducted in partnership with the National Safe Boating Council and other boating safety advocates across the country, the PFBC reminds all boaters to follow a basic safe boating checklist before and during each boating adventure.
—Always wear a life jacket
—Never boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs
—Have a float plan to let someone know where you'll be boating
—Check the weather forecast before and during your trip
—Take a boating safety education course
National Safe Boating Week is celebrated annually, just ahead of Memorial Day, which is considered the unofficial start to the summer boating season across Pennsylvania. The week is a celebration of the Commonwealth's vast boating opportunities, as well as a reminder that safety should be a priority before and during every boating adventure.
Waterways Conservation Officers will be on patrol throughout the upcoming holiday weekend and throughout the summer to conduct safety checks and look for signs of impairment. Just like operating a motor vehicle on the road, in Pennsylvania, a person operating a boat is over the legal limit if he or she has a blood alcohol concentration of point-zero-eight (0.08%) or higher.
The PFBC also reminded boaters and anglers that two Fish-for-Free Days will happen on Sunday, May 25, and Friday, July 4. On these days, anglers do not require a fishing license, but regulations including seasons, sizes, and creel limits, still apply.
Laurel Anders, PFBC Deputy Executive Director, said "I'll begin with the number one thing you can do — wear your life jacket. Law requires that you have a life jacket aboard for every person on your boat. Life jackets must be U.S. Coast Guard approved, are in good condition, and fit each person on your boat. If you have children on board, make sure you have a life jacket that fits snugly on the child. Children ages 12 and under must always wear a life jacket when aboard a boat less than 16 feet in length, including all canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards.
"Nationwide each year, approximately 80-percent of victims who die in boating incidents were not wearing a life jacket. Ask yourself if you'd be willing to take that same chance — or allow your friends and loved ones to take that chance when you head out boating this summer. Please, always wear your life jacket."
State Senator Patty Kim added, "Always check the weather forecast before and during each boating trip. A fast-moving thunderstorm can cause water levels to rise quickly and become dangerous. High water conditions can affect visibility and hide submerged obstacles such as logs and rocks that could cause you to capsize."
