How do you know they are lost, this is where they live.
In one scenario, a fellow brought in an ice cream bucket full of baby opossum. He brought them into the park and wanted to demonstrate to his son his heroics. He reported he saw an adult opossum nearby that was dead. Ok I have to say it, maybe it was just playing opossum. The point is how does he know that was the mother not the father or an aunt. Who knows, by now the babies need to be rescued. Eventually the Humane Society of La Crosse opened their doors late at night to see if they could nurture the baby opossum.Park hikers in another instance kept reporting seeing a woodpecker trying to climb up a tree and faltering and falling back down. It was along one of the hiking trails and many found the attempts disturbing and wanted to help the bird. Eventually park workers removed the bird and it was transported to the a lady who rescues raptors and other small animals in Viroqua. It's hard to think of it but birds will kick weaker and sick nest mates out. Evolution or maybe just sibling rivalry.
Just the other day at the top of Brady's Bluff, hikers repeatedly kept seeing a Rattlesnake in the middle of the path in the open area on top of a rock. Nobody had warm and fuzzy thoughts about who's going to take care of that poor lost thing. We need to keep in mind that the animals in a state park are protected. Just because we see baby animals alone doesn't mean they are abandoned. Some adult animals only visit there young once or twice a day. It's our gut reaction to want to help cute little things but we may be doing them more harm than good. Please consult with those that are qualified in rescuing animals before removing them from their home.
Here are a few phone numbers of rescue agencies-
Coulee Region Raptor Rescue 608-486-2610
Coulee Region Humane Society 608-781-4014
Very well said. Too often people try to rescue when they should just remain hands off. But on the flip side it does show people are concerned and want to help.
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