Springtime warning: Keep dogs on leads to protect young wildlife

Spring, along with increased nature walks, is a challenging time for wild animals. They are teaching their offspring to be independent, making it a particularly significant period for them. Foresters urging dog owners not to leave their dogs off-lead in the forest. A startled fawn might leave the spot where its mother left it.

Many dog owners let their pets run loose during forest walks to allow them to roam freely. However, it is worth remembering that a forest or a wild meadow is not a dog park, and one can often encounter other animals in these areas.

For their well-being, keeping your pet on a lead is advisable. This precaution can often prevent dangerous encounters, for example, with wild boars, and also help other forest inhabitants feel safe, especially in spring.

Foresters remind us of how important this is during this time. In their appeal, they emphasize the well-being of young fawns, which, left on a meadow by their mothers, can find themselves in mortal danger when confronted by our dogs.

Mother nature knows best how to care for the young. That's why, knowing how defenceless fawns are right after birth, she equipped them with a specific defence system: special coloration, a complete lack of scent, and the ability to remain motionless, informs the State Forests.

This is information worth repeating until it reaches everyone, as situations still occur where someone takes a tiny fawn from a meadow thinking it has been abandoned by its mother, while it is actually learning independence.

During this time, the female is foraging, gaining strength, and returning to her youth to feed every few hours. Her chances of growing up in the natural environment diminish if she doesn't find it where she left it.

Foresters appeal not to let your dogs off-lead in the forest. A startled fawn might leave the spot where it was left. If you encounter young ones in the forest - do not try to rescue them!