MADISON (WKOW) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding people that young wild animals will be on the move this spring and should be left alone.

“Springtime brings a flurry of inquiries from concerned individuals about the wildlife they are encountering,” said Jenna Fastner, DNR captive wildlife health specialist. “It is perfectly natural for many species of young wild animals to be left alone for extended periods of time, and they should not be disturbed.”

Fastner said wild animals are well-adapted to life in the wild and learning natural behaviors from their own species is critical to their survival.

The DNR advises people to observe wildlife from a safe distance and keep children and pets away from the area. This gives young wild animals their best chance of survival.

When you observe wildlife this spring, the DNR says you may encounter the following animals:

• Cottontail rabbit kits can be encountered anytime from spring through fall. They open their eyes at one week old and begin exploring outside the nest for short periods to nibble on grasses after about two to three weeks.
• Eastern gray squirrels raise their young in leaf nests, called dreys, tree cavities and man-made structures such as attics. Litters typically consist of two to four young, called kits, and by seven weeks old they will begin to explore outside the nest area.
• Opossums are the only marsupial in North America, and females have a pouch on their abdomen in which they carry and nurse their young. As they grow, joeys begin to ride on their mother’s back until they are approximately seven inches long from snout to rump when they become independent.
• Raccoon kits are 12 to 14 inches long and capable of walking, climbing and exploring by six to eight weeks of age. When they’re at the exploring stage, they can be seen active during the day without their mother.

The DNR says wildlife rehabilitation facilities often reach capacity during the warmer months and need to limit admissions of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. The public can help reserve space for wild animals truly in need by contacting a licensed professional for advice before assuming a wild animal needs help.

In Wisconsin, you must have a license to conduct wildlife rehabilitation.