When a good deed isn't so good

Rescuing animals can be harmful for both parties involved

"If you care, leave it there."

If only I had known that catchy little jingle last week as my three friends, Caroline, Ronan, Ellison, and myself stood hovering above a concrete-lined hole seven-feet-deep in the back-yard.

"What are you doing?" Caroline asked Ronan as he lowered his lanky six-foot-three body into the pit.

"I'm gonna get it out, Caroline," he replied.

"What!? Well, be careful, it could have rabies," she said nervously as he unwrapped the towel draped across his shoulders and began lifting the heavy slabs of plywood that sheltered the tiny baby fox, or kit, we spotted just moments before.

Ronan stumbled across the tiny pup after a series of disconcerting moans and piercing howls interrupted our peaceful dinner party. We were eating on the back porch when we noticed two adult foxes pacing the yard, looking anxious, believe it or not.

While I don't live at Caroline's place normally, I had spent the past weekend there, watching her dogs and I had taken note of how unusual the foxes had been acting.

Saturday morning, I saw one roaming around the house, acting as foxes do, nothing strange as far as I was concerned. She was back again Sunday morning and I watched for a while as she circled the apple trees and wove through the tall grass leading to the lake.

Later that day, as the dogs and I sun-bathed on the porch when this curious red fox came a little too close for comfort. I couldn't believe my eyes when at roughly noon, this animal sauntered not more than 10 feet in front of two dogs and a human, like it wasn't a thing.

Now, seeing her cub in distress, I started to piece together the puzzle. This poor infant must have been at the bottom of that pit for a few days now. He was so exhausted, he didn't even put up a fight as Ronan wrapped him in the towel and placed him gingerly in the grass at his feet.

The adult fox, who we assumed was its mother, waited from a safe distance through the whole ordeal. I can't say it didn't feel good as we watched the little guy stumble through the grass toward the safety of the marshes. Both soon disappeared and the group of us sort of just stood around in disbelief.

What a cool evening. What a neat thing to see.

Then again, was it the right choice to make given the circumstance? What if the fox had attacked my friend?

What if the fox family won't care for the animal now that it's been held by a human? I wondered these questions and more as I entered the office Monday morning, bursting with tales of the weekend's heroic deed.

John Fraley, Information and Education Program Manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, asks that wildlife species, such as birds and small mammals be left in the wild.

"Usually, young animals picked up by people can't be rehabilitated and they are often abandoned by adult animals once human scent is transferred to them," he said.

"Should someone bring a deer or elk to FWP, we will ask that the animal be taken back to the site where it was found. If the animal can't be returned to the wild, it will be euthanized."

As it turns out, people often attempt to adopt and rehabilitate what appear to be abandoned young animals, like deer, but that is actually illegal.

According to Pat Jaimieson, Outdoor Recreation Planner at the National Bison Range, the best plan of action is to leave the animal where it is and call the authorities.

"The state has a real big campaign called "If You Care, Leave It There," she said. "People often pick up animals they think are orphaned when the mother is actually just hiding."

Jaimieson points out that in the popular case of young deer, the mother could be off feeding away from the young because she is easier to spot and needs to be more careful than the fawn. Bottom line, you may think that the fawn has been abandoned, but unless you have proof, the mom is probably there.

"Eventually, it gets to the point where they need to let it go in the wild, except the animal doesn't have the skills to survive," Jaimieson said. "It's usually the first to get killed during hunting season because it will approach people."

Once you do get human scent on a wild animal, Jaimieson said, what hurts the worst is that you've just put a human scent trail to an animal that can be hunted by predators.

If you have a concern with an abandoned wild animal, or one in distress, call the CSKT Natural Resource Department or your local FWP.

"They usually have game wardens that work on weekends if it's something that's real critical," Jaimieson said.

"It's nice that people care, but for the animal's sake, it's best that they call the authorities who are set up to take care of it."