Don't touch the animals
Sunday, June 13, 2004
If you are out for a nature walk or a bicycle ride and you come
across a wild animal, please don't take it home with you! It is not
only illegal but you could cause harm to the animal or to your family
and pets by exposing them to diseases and parasites, officials say.
As New Jersey's wildlife becomes more active during warmer weather,
Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell is urging
residents who encounter young wildlife to leave them in the wild,
unless an animal is injured.
"Many young animals are removed from the wild during spring and
summer by otherwise well-intentioned people who mistakenly assume the
babies were abandoned and needed help to save them," Campbell
said. "Most of the time, the young animal is waiting for a parent to
return from foraging or is using its natural instincts to hide and
protect itself."
Some people may find a wood or Eastern box turtle and take it home as
a pet, said Troy Ettel, director of conservation for the New Jersey
Audubon Society. "This is obviously not good for the turtle because
it will go into a stress mode and will not eat," he aid. "Ultimately,
the turtle will die."
Citizens who find an injured animal should contact the Department of
Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife at (609) 292-
2965 or visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com for information on the
nearest wildlife rehabilitation center.
-- Allison Freeman
Copyright 2004 The Star-Ledger.
http://www.nj.com/living/ledger/index.ssf?/base/living2/1087109595209441.xml
Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Jun 14, 2004