Why Doing Nothing Is The Best Way To Help Texas Wildlife

Sometimes, the best way to "help" abandoned animals is to simply do nothing. It may seem opposite, but interfering with nature is rarely the right move.

Look, but Don't Touch!

Spring in Texas is a beautiful time of year. From flowers blooming to animals emerging from their winter slumber, nature sure is alive during spring. The problem with humans is that they see a baby squirrel all alone and feel the urge to be a hero.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, people mean well, but when they step in to help an orphaned bird, squirrel, or even baby deer, they disrupt the natural order. Okay, that sounds dramatic, but it's true!

Leave it To the Professionals

If you find an animal who is truly in need of assistance, the State of Texas has specialized wildlife rehabbers who are authorized to handle wild animals. They have the tools, equipment, and know-how to make sure the distressed animal you found will get the care they need.

You can find your nearest wildlife rehabber here.

It's important to remember that adult mammals only "abandon" their young when they are ready, and the parent is often not too far away and staying invisible. There are few times when stepping in and helping a baby animal is advisable.

Common Situations with Abandoned Animals

You may come across a bird nest with some adorable little fluffy babies all huddled together inside. You may also notice that the mother is nowhere to be found, even after waiting for a while. The good news is that, in most cases, the mother bird is nearby but choosing not to draw unnecessary attention from predators.

Here's a photo I took recently of some baby birds hatching in my front yard! Ignore the finger in the way... it was hard to get the angle.

A trick you can use to see if the mother bird actually abandoned her nest is to gently place some small sticks around the nest without touching it. After giving it a few hours and you notice the sticks are moved, then don't worry, the mom is still there.

However, if you find a nest blown down by high winds, go ahead and gently place it back in the tree that it came from. The old wives' tale of birds rejecting their young if a human touches them is not true. Very few birds will notice a human smell in the wild.

Baby birds hopping along the ground are perfectly normal—no touchy! Many species of birds spend a day or two on the ground before they learn to fly. The only instance where it's acceptable to move a baby bird on the ground is if they are in the middle of the road or sidewalk. Otherwise, never move them from the area that they're found.

Finally, fawns are found throughout Texas and often seem abandoned. This is a common mistake as they are often left alone by their mothers as they go off and forage for food. Fawns lack defenses of, well, pretty much any kind, so their only protection from predators is to flatten down against the ground, called "bedding down."

If the fawn is not covered in ants, bleeding from wounds, or suffering from swollen eyes, then just leave it alone. You don't have to be a hero.

Abandoned Animals in Lubbock

If you see any animals in distress in the Hub City, your best option is to call Lubbock Animal Services and let them assess the situation. Follow their instructions as they determine what's best for the little cat, dog, bird, or any other critter.

You can find contact information for Lubbock Animal Services on the City of Lubbock website. And remember: No matter how cute and sad baby animals seem, you stepping in to "help" could just make things worse.