What To Do If You Find An ‘Abandoned’ Baby Animal in Michigan

It's spring, and that means new growth and new life. Animals are reemerging for the season and babies are popping up everywhere.

But, what do you do if you happen upon a baby wild animal that you believe has been abandoned? Well, it depends on the animal and luckily, we have some great experts here in West Michigan and beyond who are happy to educate the public about what to do.

I'll start out by saying that, for the most part, the answer is "leave the animal alone". Wild animals have been surviving in the wild for years without human intervention and they will continue to do so if we let them be.

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It's important to remember a few key things as laid out by our friends at Soulshine Wildlife Center:

• First and foremost, in most states it's illegal to possess/care for a wild animal unless you are licensed to do so.
• If you do take in a baby animal, DO NOT attempt to bottle feed it.
• Unless you have reason to believe that an animal is injured or has been orphaned, just let them do their thing. Rehabilitation centers are very busy and in most cases, these babies could (and should) have been reunited with their moms.

Trust me, I get it. I, too, want to protect every single baby animal that I see. But, for the most part, it's best to let their parents come back for them.

READ MORE: What Is The Official State Dog For Michigan? 

Let's take a look at some of the most common 'abandoned' animals you might find in Michigan and what you should do if you happen upon one.