Spring is coming! Here’s how to be a good neighbor to local wildlife

March 10, 2026

Posted by Lake Erie Nature and Science Center

Spring is in the air and with it comes one of the most exciting times of year: baby season for local wildlife. Animals like tiny fawns, fluffy ducklings, and wide-eyed baby bunnies (among others) are starting to make their way into the world.
Because of the warmer weather and the little ones taking the stage, Spring is often the busiest time of year for wildlife specialists at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. Here are a few things the wildlife experts at the Center would like you to know.

That baby animal wasn’t necessarily abandoned
It’s easy to spot a lone fawn curled up in the grass and assume something is wrong. But mom is almost certainly nearby, intentionally keeping her distance. She’ll return at dusk and dawn to nurse and care for her baby. Eastern cottontail rabbits also purposefully stay away from their nests to avoid tipping off predators, only sneaking back twice a day to feed their young.
That said, some babies should never be on their own. If you come across a lone duckling, gosling, gull chick, or opossum baby, that’s your cue to call a wildlife rehabilitator right away.

Before you intervene
While they’re cute to look at, baby animals are tough little creatures. They’re built to navigate the challenges of the wild – predators and all. The skills they need to survive can only be learned in their natural environment, from their parents. As much as we, as humans, would love to protect them from every danger, intervening can often do more harm than good.

Take a peek at your yard before you start yard work.
Before you fire up the lawn mower this spring, do a quick scan for rabbit nests. Eastern cottontails love to build their nests right in the middle of lawns. If you find one, leave it exactly where it is. Moving the nest can prevent the mother from finding her babies again.
The same goes for trimming trees and shrubs; check for bird nests before you start moving or cutting branches.
If you find a baby bird on the ground with visible skin (not yet feathered), carefully place it back in its nest. But if the bird is fully feathered and just hopping around on the ground, leave it be. It’s a fledgling, doing exactly what it’s supposed to be doing: learning about life outside the nest.

Skip the refreshments
If you come across a baby animal, resist the urge to feed it or give it water. Every species has very specific dietary needs, and offering the wrong food can seriously harm them. The best thing you can offer is space.

Watch your pets
Spring is a great time to be extra mindful about keeping cats indoors and supervising dogs outside. No matter how docile your pet may be, they should be kept away from wild animals. Doing so protects the baby animals in your neighborhood and it keeps your own pets out of harm’s way too.

When in doubt, call
If you find an injured animal or have questions about local wildlife, please call the nonprofit Lake Erie Nature & Science Center at 440-871-2900, extension 204 before intervening. The center provides wildlife rehabilitation services seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at no charge to the public.

Thank you to The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, a KeyBank Trust, for supporting Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s wildlife education and rehabilitation program.