07/15/2026
It’s baby season! Check out these adorable juvenile (baby) Raccoons hanging out by PECM this morning. Around this time you’ll see a lot of young wildlife venturing away from their mothers like these two were, it doesn’t mean they’re abandoned, just learning to be independent.
It can be extremely tempting to try and “help” young wildlife that seems abandoned, however, the best thing to do is leave them alone.
It’s not what we want to hear and it’s not easy advice to follow - but there’s good reason KDWP, biologists and other wildlife agencies all spread this same message!
1. Wildlife can carry many diseases and parasites and be quite ill without looking like it. Mammals, like these Raccoons, can easily transfer those diseases and parasites to us since we’re mammals too!
2. Sick or injured wildlife can be aggressive! Many animals have evolved to hide how sick or in pain they are to protect themselves from other wildlife. Approaching them can be very risky for your safety!
3. Interacting with wildlife, especially feeding them, can create a dependency on human interaction. This can decrease their overall chances at survival while also putting them in danger to, and potentially making them a threat in, future human interactions.
4. Wildlife are tough! They’ve survived a long, long, long, LONG time without us fixing their problems for them. Survival of the fittest may seem harsh but it helps sort out genetic mutations that bring the overall health of the population down.
There are many, MANY more reasons why leaving them alone is both in our, and their, best interest. If you do find an obviously injured or sick animal, look for a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to help them on KDWP’s webpage - Keep Wildlife Wild - https://www.ksoutdoors.gov/discover-learn/wildlife-of-kansas/keep-wildlife-wild
You can also use the app “Animal Help Now” to help find a licensed rehabilitator near you!
