DNR Advises Leaving Wildlife In The Wild...

SPORTS/OUTDOORS ARTICLE IN THE CEDAR SPRINGS POST- MICHIGAN.

It happens every Spring, Someone finds an "abandoned" fawn and takes it upon themselves to "rescue" it.
The Department of Natural REsources Wildlife Division staff has a word of advice: Don't.

"When young fawns are born, they're not very mobile and don't appear to have much scent to them so their best defense is to just stay still, on their own, apart from their mother," explained Brent Rudolph, the deer and elk program leader for the DNR.

"Predators can't track them down by following mom around, so she stays away and the fawns stay alone- that's their best defense during their first few days of life."

For the most part, does know exctly where their fawns are, " Sometimes what mom sees as a safe place to stash a fawn is a flower bed at the edge of the house or maybe underneath a deck," Rudolph said. " So people think 'That's a weird place for a fawn--it must be an orphan." Generally they're not orphaned. Through those first few weeks, mom will feed them, clean them, check up on them, and then take off again so she's not drawing attention to them.
So we encourage people to let them be."

There are times --say, you find a dead doe by the side of the road with a nearby fawn--when fawns have been orphaned.
Remember it is illegal to take them into your home. Call a licensed rehabilitator If you feel the need. For a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators,
Visit www.michigan dnr.com/dlr/.
The same advice applies to other animals as well. Though many young animals are adorable as babies, raccoons, for instance, they grow up to be less adorable as adults.

Acoording to DNR wildlife biologist Erin Victory, wild animals do not make good pets and once habituated to humans, they generally do not do well when returned to the wild. They also pose the possibility of bringing disease or parasites that could affect you or your pets into your home.
Raccoons, for example, are not only potentially rabid, but they can carry canine distemper, not to mention round worms, fleas and mange.
"Please resist the urge to try to help seemingly abandoned fawns or other animal babies this spring," Victory said, " We appreciate the good intentions of if you want to get more enjoyment of your yard, you can consider creating attractive outdoor spaces that are both easy to take care of and agood for the environment.
American homeowners are increasingly drawn to adding outdoor rooms for entertaining and recreation on their properties.
That's what the most recent REsidential Landscape Artchitecture Trends survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects discovered.
The survey results also show demand for both sustainable and low-maintenance design.

Landscape architects who specialize in residential design were asked to rate the exoected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements.
The category of outdoor living spaces, defined as kitchens and entertainment spaces, received a 94.5 percent rating as somewhat or very popular, Ninety-seven percent of respondents rated fire pits and fireplaces as somewhat or very in demand, followed by grills, seating and dining areas , and lighting.
Decorative water elements--including waterfalls, ornamental pools and splash pools --were predicted to be in demand for home landscapes. Spas and pools are also popular.
Terraces, patios and decks are also high on people's lists.
Americans prefer pracical yet striking design elements for their gardens including low-maintenance landscapes and native plants.
In addition, more people are opting for food and vegetable gardens, including orchards and vineyards.

Good to know:
If you're thinking of joining them, a few food-growing facts and hints may help:
-Food gardens can be easy,rewarding and sustainable. For starters, you can use fallen leaves in autumn and grass clipping in Spring and Summer as mulch and weed suppressant.

- Perennial plants can be low maintenance-- they come back every year without replanting. Some great examples include asparagusm blueberries, blackberries and rhubarb

- Herbs can make for an especially sustainable food garden, as many prefer hot and dry areas pf upir yard, with chives, sage and tarragon returning every year.

LEARN MORE:
Additional information on the survey and on residential landscape architecture in general can be found at www.asla.org/residentialinfo and (888) 999-2752.

Credit goes to: The Cedar Springs Post
@SarikaAshley