818-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 22, 1995 UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) —Many animals raise their young during spring and summer. If you come across one of those young animals, it’s best to leave it alone, according to wildlife spe cialist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. “People often encounter wild life, particularly young animals, in the spring,” said Dr. Margaret Brittingham, associate professor of wildlife resources. “Birds, fawns and rabbits are the most fre quently encountered animals. “People who try to help animals that seem to be wounded or aban doned have good intentions,” she said. “But often they wind up doing more harm than good. “Many people see a young, flightless bird sitting alone and decide to help by taking it inside,” Brittingham said. “Problems soon' arise because baby birds are very difficult to raise.” If you leave a bird where you found it, the parents will come to feed it. “It’s easy to think that a bird that can’t fly is in trouble,” she said. “In fact, young birds often leave the nest when they can’t truly fly, but can do a hop ping half-flight. If you put them back in the nest at this point, they’ll hop right back out” If you’re worried that a cat or other animal might get the bird, it’s okay to place it out of harm’s way in a bush. The adult birds will come back and feed it. “If you can see the nest, it’s all right to put the young bird back in it,” Brittingham said. “It’s a myth that if you touch a baby bird the mother will never come back.” If you discover a nest that’s tipped over or fallen, pick it up, put the young back in it and place it in the tree. You also can make an artificial nest from a small basket and hang it as close to the original nest as you can. 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Rabbits nurse their young only twice a day, early in the morning and late in the after noon. The rest of the time the young rabbits are left by them selves. If you find a nest, don’t disturb it.” Brittingham notes that rabbits periodically return to check on their young. “If the nest has been Learn To Read Labels FLEMINGTON, NJ. Join your county extension home eco nomist and your local Shopßite of Remington, Route 202 and 31 on July 20,10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., fora two-hour aisle by aisle tour that compares products and product la bels and teaches you how to be a more educated consumer. Learn to read labels and reduce the fat in your diet. Find out how to make disturbed, the adult rabbit will move it. Once my dog came upon a rabbit’s nest. I got her away from it and left the nest alone. When we returned to that spot two hours later, the young already had been moved.” People also may find fawns in the woods. “Deer, like rabbits, leave their young alone for long periods of time,” she said. “So ii you come upon a young animal in the woods, don’t immediately assume it’s been abandoned. It’s more likely that the adult will return later.” Brittingham also urges people to remember that you can be injured trying to aid wildlife. “By handling wild animals, you put yourself at risk of being scratched, bitten or even contract ing a disease,” she said. “Rac coons, for instance, often carry rabies. Many people are exposed to the disease each year by having contact with a raccoon. “The best policy is to leave wildlife wild,” she said. dietary changes your doctor has recommended to lower your blood pressure or cholesterol. 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