It's the time of year when many wild animals give birth, and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department is reminding us not to approach, touch, or handle the animals.

With summer on the way, the forests and trails are filled with people out enjoying God's incredible creation, and this time of  year it's not uncommon to see small animals who appear to be alone and abandoned.

Renzo Del Piccolo says "young animals are often times left alone to allow the mother to feed them, to help them avoid predators, and learn how to survive in the wild."

Small animals are such a temptation -- especially for children who are fascinated by them. Parents can help by teaching their children to not disturb wildlife.  Here's a simple rule of thumb to teach your  kids -if it doesn't bark or meow - leave it alone!

Deer provide a good example of how wildlife adapt behaviors to help them survive. Young fawns have no scent and are born with speckled coats that provide a natural camouflage. These two factors help them avoid being found by predators. When the mother doe senses a predator might be close by it moves away. Many other animals use similar survival techniques.

(ThinkStock)
(ThinkStock)
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Elk and moose calves are also left alone by their mothers. If you see one, move away quickly. Do not move closer or attempt to get the animal to move.

A disturbing situation occurred in Vail earlier this week when a moose calf was apparently chased by children into a hotel lobby where it collapsed. The animal was picked up by a wildlife officer and is now at a CPW facility in Fort Collins.

People also need to keep their pets under control. In the woods, dogs acting on their natural instincts can find animals and attack them. The stress of being attacked often is fatal for young animals.

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