Here’s what to watch for with this spring’s baby animals in B.C.

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It’s officially spring and that means pretty pink buds on the trees, warm inviting patios for margaritas with pals, and of course plenty of those cute baby animals.

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It can also be a time when many of these wild newborns may seem abandoned. But before you strap that fawn into a seatbelt and take it home to befriend your dog, you might want to take note of what the experts advise.

Deer will sometimes leave their young alone while they forage for food, and the B.C. SPCA says sometimes healthy babies are mistakenly brought in to the centre by concerned citizens.

However, they might also be orphaned if the parents have been hit by a car or attacked by a predator. So how can a concerned citizen tell the difference?

Vanessa Isnardy, a spokesperson for WildSafeBC, said anyone who comes across a newborn animal that seems like it has been abandoned should keep their pets, such as cats and dogs, away from the animal.

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She said people should keep their distance, avoid interfering as much as possible, and call the Conservation Officer Service (1-877-952-7277) for advice.

When trimming trees and hedges, the B.C. SPCA advises people to take care not to disturb any bird nests that could be hidden among the branches. Hummingbird nests, for instance, can be as tiny as a toonie with jelly-bean sized eggs inside.

If you accidentally cut down a branch with a nest, call the B.C. SPCA Animal Helpline for advice at 1-855-622-7722. The solution could be as simple as reattaching the branch, but depending on the situation, the whole nest of babies may need to go to a wildlife rehabilitation.

The B.C. SPCA said all branches are preparing for babies to arrive but the Wild ARC is busiest in spring because of the hundreds of newborn animals.

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The agency said orphaned hummingbirds are often the first babies to arrive at Wild ARC each spring, and staff were already caring for a young fledgling who had fallen from the nest. Hummingbirds need to be hand-fed every 10 minutes when they are young, according to the B.C. SPCA.

They are housed in mini-incubators with specially-designed soft mesh baskets to keep them at the right temperature and to make sure they don’t damage their delicate feathers.

Deer fawns begin to arrive at Wild ARC in late spring, often orphaned as the result of their mum being struck by a car, or injured by a predator or unruly off-leash dogs. The babies require a special formula mixture and again anyone who comes across one should call the provincial RAP line at 1-877-952-7277.

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And the same goes for coyotes.

Remember last summer when there was an attack in Stanley Park every other week, including several children? Well experts say they could be more aggressive during the spring because they are denning.

Dana McDonald, the environment stewardship coordinator for the Vancouver park board, said they might be a little bit more bold, standing their ground to keep people away from their dens.

“If that happens, the ideal thing is just to keep on moving. If a coyote is approaching you, then be loud, wave your hands, shake a noisemaker,” she said, adding pups will rarely be found on their own without a parent.

She said they don’t know how many coyotes are left in Stanley Park but they are confident that there are still some left, and that they are denning in the forested areas. McDonald added that it is really important that people don’t feed them so they become habituated to humans.

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“That leads to coyotes becoming aggressive and when a coyote becomes aggressive, it has to be removed. So it’s kind of like that phrase, fed bears are dead bears. The same is true for coyotes.”

Staff will be taking more measure to limit coyotes’ access to food in the park, she said, such as retrofitting waste bins. In Vancouver, it is illegal to feed wild animals in the park.

During coyote denning season, it is also really important to keep your dog on a leash, said McDonald.

Those who want to help provide formula and other help to wild animal babies can donate at the B.C. SPCA.

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