Awe So Cute

It is that time of year again when you are likely to stumble upon something in the woods that makes you say "Awe so cute!!". This is a right of spring that happens all too often. So what am I talking about?

This is baby time of year in the World of wildlife as many creatures have their young in the spring. Life begins again with flowers growing and blooming, fields stretching for the sky, and leaves bursting as the World wakes up from a long winter. It is a great time to be outside.

Keep your eyes open and stop to listen as you walk the trails. You are likely to discover some truly beautiful sights. One thing you need to remember though is to allow nature to be nature. Things have evolved over time and the wildlife has adapted to safely take care of their young.

So when you see those cute little birds in a nest or that baby fawn laying on the ground and the parents seem to be nowhere to be found, just remember to let them be. Mom is likely not far away and will return. Some times it is quicker then others and each species varies. If the animal isn't obviously injured then you are likely doing it more harm then good. Even animals that are injured factor into nature being nature as not every baby is supposed to make it. It is a part of population control and part of why some species have so many young at one time.

Some species can actually reabsorb the fetus into the walls of the womb if times become tough and it is likely not to survive and at the opposite end there are species who have hundreds of eggs hoping a few defeat astronomical odds to make it. Nature has it under control.

That fawn is likely doing just what it is supposed to do until Mom returns and that could be a few minutes or even hours. mom needs food to feed the baby and thus she at some point has to leave the baby alone. There is a species of seal that nurtures its baby till the Mom almost starves to death and then she must leave to feed. She can be gone as long as a month! The baby must make it on its own and faces a daunting challenge but this is all built into Natures plan and we must let it happen.

So when you see a baby try to remember that it likely isn't lost or Mom hasn't abandoned it either. The process of life is just playing out and no matter how much noise the baby makes or how cute it is that you really need to just leave it be. Nature will do what needs to be done as it has for so long.

Enjoy the view and walk away with a cute story to tell and now something in your arms that now is definitely without a Mom. As soon as you pick it up and walk away you have altered the fate of the little one. It is best left as is to the fate destined by nature.

Enjoy the experience.