Here's what to do if you find a wild baby animal alone

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (KMSP) - Springtime is the start of the busy season at the Wildlife Rehab Center in Roseville. Over the next three months, medical staff will treat about 8,000 animals--many of them babies.

Medical staff are caring for a coyote pup brought in over the weekend from southern Minnesota after it was observed alone for two days. 

“If you see a baby animal and you’re concerned give us a call, every situation is different and every species is different,” said Renee Schott, WRC medical director.

Experts say not all baby animals found alone in the wild need rescuing. Alone, doesn’t necessarily mean they're abandoned.

“A lot of baby animals that are out there are just fine. In the wild, most of the parents don’t want to go to the nest because that attracts attention and predators,” said Phil Jenni, the WRC executive director.

But when in doubt, WRC officials say give the center a call.

“What we always say is observe it for a little while – 24 hours at minimum – to see if anything that does happen and we have tips for people, so in those cases we really want people to call us and we can walk them through,” said Phil Jenni, the executive director of Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

Once the coyote pup no longer needs hand care, it will be transferred to another center where it will be prepped, so it can eventually be released back to the wild.

The WRC can be reached at (651)486-9453 for wildlife rescue advice.