NH Officials Ask Public To Leave Wildlife Alone

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire Fish and Game officials are urging the public not to assume young wildlife they see alone are orphaned and to leave them in the wild.

Officials say they are already receiving reports from wildlife rehabilitators of people picking up young animals and assuming they are alone.

Wildlife Programs Supervisor Kent Gustafson says people think they're doing a good deed but in reality are removing the animals from the care of their parents and exposing them to the risk of disease.

Officials say it's not unusual for does to leave fawns while they forage for food so that predators don't key in on the fawns, which give off no scent — one of their many defense mechanisms.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.