TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — As spring brings forth ‘baby season’ for wildlife and companion animals, the Humane Society of the United States is offering recommendations on how to appropriately respond when encountering baby animals outside.

Good Samaritans often come across young animals and wonder if they are in need of assistance. Whether individuals come across a litter of kittens nestled in their backyard, or a fawn seemingly abandoned in a field, there are critical steps to take to determine what, if any intervention is needed.

“During the spring and summer, both animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitators are often overwhelmed with baby wild animals brought in by the public, many of whom are mistakenly identified as orphans in need of care,” said Lynsey White, director of humane wildlife conflict resolution at the Humane Society of the United States. “Baby animals do best when they are raised by their parents, so while it’s crucial to take action if an animal genuinely needs help, it’s equally important to assess the situation first to ensure intervention is necessary.”

Signs that a wild animal needs your help:

• The animal is brought to you by a cat or dog.
• A bird is featherless or nearly featherless and on the ground.
• The animal is shivering.
• There’s a dead parent nearby.
• The animal is crying and wandering all day long.
• The animal shows signs of injury:
• They have an obvious broken limb.
• There’s evidence of bleeding.
• You can see an obvious asymmetry: Do both eyes look clear? Do both wings or pairs of legs look similar?

If you see any of these signs, find help for the animal. Ideally, you should reach out to a local wildlife center or wildlife rehabilitator for guidance. If necessary—and following the rehabber’s instructions—safely capture and transport the animal to the appropriate place for treatment.

Whether an animal is orphaned and needs your help depends on their age, species and behavior. Babies of some species are left alone all day and rely on camouflage for protection, while others are tightly supervised by their parents. Read on for descriptions of what’s normal for each species.

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