With spring upon us, many people start to pay more attention to the abundant wildlife around us. Unfortunately, one Maine game warden warns, that’s not always a good thing.

Warden Kevin Adam, who patrols the Dexter and Newport areas, said he receives several calls each spring from well-meaning citizens who think animals need their help.

There are plenty of newborn animals out there at this time of year, Adam says, and many folks see a baby animal of one kind or another – often a deer, but sometimes a skunk, raccoon or fox – and decide to intervene.

The main cause: People see a small animal without its mother present and assume that it has been abandoned.

That’s not often the case.

“If they come across a baby deer that looks like it’s been abandoned by its mother, the mother is probably still nearby somewhere,” Adam said. “They should leave it alone for at least 24 hours and then call a game warden or a biologist.”

Adam said people think animals are abandoned for a variety of reasons. Sometimes people walking their dogs find baby animals when they walk between the baby and its mother in the woods. The mother hunkers down nearby, and the baby is discovered. If left alone, the mother and baby would soon reunite.

At other times, the mother ventures away from its young while searching for food.

“If they’re out feeding, they may be in open areas that they don’t want the young deer to be in because a coyote could chase them down or something like that,” Adam said.

Another problem: Many people think that once they “rescue” an animal, they’re responsible for it because a mother deer (or other animal) will essentially disown offspring that come into human contact.

Again, not so, Adam said.

Although Adam cautions people against approaching the wild animals in the first place, he said one interaction with humans doesn’t mean the animal will be ostracized or abandoned by its mother.

“Even if they do touch [the animal], that doesn’t mean that the mother won’t come back,” Adam said.

Adam said game wardens routinely receive calls from people who have intervened on behalf of animals, and his advice is simple: Put the animal back where you found it, and leave it alone.

“People also need to know that they cannot legally be in possession of any wild animal like that,” Adam said. “It is a violation.”

With Memorial Day signaling the unofficial start to the summer outdoor season, more people will be out in the woods, camping, fishing and visiting their lakeside camps.

Adam said that that due to that increased outdoor activity, more people will likely see young animals, and spreading the word to leave those animals alone is even more essential.

“The best chance for [a young animal] is to stay in the wild with its mother,” Adam said.

“A lot of people think, ‘We find a baby deer and we call the game wardens and it’ll grow up,'” he said. “They get very stressed, and they get their best nutrition from their mothers. We take them to a rehabilitator, but that’s an artificial situation.”

Passamaquoddy wardens hired

A couple weeks ago, I told you about 10 Maine game wardens who had successfully completed the warden academy and who would be starting work in the field.

An alert reader called to ask why I didn’t mention the fact that two Passamaquoddy wardens also completed their training alongside the state wardens.

The reason: I just didn’t know.

Now, thanks to that reader – newly-minted Passamaquoddy warden Bob Fitzsimmons – I do.

According to Fitzsimmons, who has been busy attending to his duties during the spring bear hunt on tribal land, Scott Francis also graduated from the advanced warden school and now works for the Indian Township Warden Service. Fitzsimmons works for the tribe out of the Pleasant Point office.

Fitzsimmons said the wardens are part of a force of four full-time and four part-time wardens that patrols all tribal lands and waters from the Jackman area to Pleasant Point, including land near Springfield, Indian Township, and Cherryfield.

According to Fitzsimmons, Francis completed the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program before he started the advanced warden school. Fitzsimmons graduated from the police academy in 2001.

Congratulations to both new wardens on their accomplishments.

Bucksmills event a hit

Each spring, just about the time trout start biting (and black flies follow suit), the members of the Bucksmills Rod & Gun Club hold an epic event.

Epic, that is, if you’re one of those outdoors enthusiasts who drools at the thought of a plate-draping slab of prime rib and enjoys the chance to share a few laughs with hunters, anglers and game wardens.

On Friday night, the Bucksport club held its latest Warden Appreciation Dinner, and it was (as always) very well attended.

The evening gives club members a chance to rub elbows with the boys and girls in green and show their genuine appreciation for a job well done.

The fact that the festivities just happen to involve massive portions of prime rib? Well, that’s pretty cool, too.

More than a dozen retired and present wardens showed up, and plenty of belly laughs were enjoyed during and after the meal.

Thanks again to the folks at Bucksmills Rod & Gun Club for their hospitality and to the assembled wardens for all they do on a daily basis.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.