As cute as newborn animals are, conservation officials are urging people to leave them be.
Missouri Department of Conservation is reminding the public that interfering with wildlife can do more harm than good.
“Young animals are rarely orphaned,” said Sherri Russell, MDC State Wildlife Veterinarian, via news release. “If the young is left alone, the parent will usually return. Parents are normally out searching for food and cannot constantly attend to their offspring.”
Baby birds are a common newborn people can come across in the spring.
“If you see a chick with feathers hopping on the ground, leave it alone and bring pets inside because it’s a fledgling and the parents are nearby keeping watch,” Russell said.