He warns, “In a lot of cases, they are not abandoned.” Unlike what many people would expect, mom is not hovering over her newborn. Like the baby, she is crafting a hiding place. “It’s mom’s natural mechanism. Mom doesn’t want to hang around and draw attention to where the babies are,” Mr Goff said. “Mom will distract from the area where the baby hides.”

Do not succumb to the nurturing urge, he advised.

“I’m a city girl, so I am no expert,” Newtown resident Marj Cramer said, explaining that she loves animals.

She also worries about them.

Recently when she called for help to remove squirrels from her attic, Ms Cramer met Statewide Wildlife Rescue wildlife rehabilitator Jennifer Weiffenback. With the squirrel problem resolved, Ms Cramer discover another, more troubling issue — spring’s tide of newborn animals does not mix well with residents who discover a nest in the backyard. Ms Cramer explained: “People think they’re orphaned.”

Not likely.

The fawn curled in a nest of tall grass and brush is “absolutely not abandoned,” said Animal Control Officer Carolee Mason. “The mom leaves for a few hours,” she said. If the baby is alone all day and into the next morning she suggests calling for help, however. As baby deer, for one, begin to appear in late May and early June, Ms Weiffenback advised, “For the baby deer found in the grass, mom is generally watching, but people think they are abandoned.” The mothers are out looking for food, she suggested. Unless an animal is in distress, bleeding, or bone-thin, she advises leaving them alone. “Nature has its pattern; we shouldn’t override it,” she said.

Walk away and wait, she suggests, and maybe glimpse the mother returning. Already underfoot in the backyard, or uncovered by lawn mowers, or disturbed by a rake are baby mice or bunnies. “They’re very, very small,” Ms Weiffenback said, but residents are finding them and the calls to her office, for one, have started. She stressed “If they’re not injured, don’t worry about this.”

Dogs and cats may also be stumbling across the nests, presenting another danger to the babies. If a nest is disturbed by lawn mower or pet, for example, but the animals appear unharmed, homeowners can take steps to double check that the babies are not abandoned. “Place [the nest] back the way it was and put and X on top with sticks,” she said. If the sticks are later disturbed, then the mother has returned. Unlike the image people may have in mind of a mother that hovers over babies, Ms Weiffenback said, “They don’t sit on the nest like chickens.”

Babies’ behavior may also be misleading. “When the top of the nest is disturbed, they pop up, they think it’s the mom coming,” she said. The newborns are not starving and scrambling for food.

Offering pieces of information about “urban squirrels,” “pathetic looking” baby birds, or raccoons that may be spotted in the day, she clarifies several myths or misunderstandings. As newly hatched birds soon begin learning to fly, residents should not be alarmed to find the fledglings struggling on the ground. “If it’s looking really pathetic and hopping around and flopping on the ground, that’s usually just before it’s ready to fly,” Ms Weiffenback said. “It’s called branching.” Birds hop from the nest to the branch, spread their fledgling wings, and flutter to the ground. The first few attempts can be unsuccessful, she said, just like children learning to walk. Do not “rescue” the bird. To protect them from cats especially, she suggests nudging them under a bush. The mother and father bird are close by — for practical reasons as well as protection. “They need to feed every 15 minutes to half hour,” she said.

Baby squirrels also have some habits that at first appear unusual. If something has happened to the parents, a distressed baby will run up a pant leg, she said. “They’re starving; they’re looking for help.” If a baby is wandering under a tree, the mother will come for it, however. Residents may want to give it a small basket and nestled the fallen baby at least six feet high in the tree, however, to protect it from cats. Before trying to feed or provide water or milk for a baby animal — efforts that could be dangerous — resident should contact the Department of Environmental Protection or a rehabilitator if an animal truly is abandoned and injured or in distress. However, Ms Weiffenback warns, “As long as they are not showing signs of injury, at least give the parents a chance.”

Beware of offering milk to young animals, which they often are unable to digest, or water that may be in excess of what they need. The animals aspirate (accidentally draw fluid into the lungs), catch pneumonia, and often the rehabilitator can do little to help it, she said.

Do not misinterpret raccoons or skunks spotted during daylight hours. “It’s a big fallacy that if you see them in the day they are rabid,” she said. “It’s an urban myth that costs a lot of animals their lives.” Unless the animal is acting unusual, it may be a mother foraging.

Also, beware of the family pets and the hazards cats and dogs pose to the newborns nestled in the brush. Get a bell collar for your cat, and keep your dog leashed Ms Weiffenbach stressed. Visit the following websites for more information: cwrawildlife.org or ct.gov/DEP and type in wildlife rehabilitation under the DEP search option.