Visiting Croatia this summer? Important advice about baby wild animals

BRIJUNI, 22 July 2026 – Summer brings more encounters between people and young wild animals, but National Park Brijuni is warning that well-intentioned attempts to help can sometimes put their survival at risk.

The park says the best response in most cases is not to intervene.

Young birds and mammals are often found alone while their parents search for food or remain nearby, watching from a distance. This behaviour is a normal part of wildlife survival. Parents may deliberately stay away to avoid attracting predators to young animals that are still unable to move quickly or escape.

As a result, an animal that appears abandoned may in fact be receiving regular care.

The public is advised not to touch or move a wild animal unless it is clearly injured or in immediate danger. If there are visible injuries or signs of dehydration, people should contact the relevant wildlife protection professionals for advice. Any intervention involving strictly protected species should be carried out only following expert assessment.

The advice varies depending on the species and age of the animal. Young birds without feathers or with only down are nestlings and may have fallen from a nest. If the nest can be found, they can be returned. If not, experts may advise placing them in a sheltered, shaded location close to where they were found.

Young birds that already have feathers and are beginning to fly are fledglings. They commonly spend time on the ground during their first attempts at flight, while their parents remain nearby and continue to feed them. They should generally be left where they are unless they are in immediate danger.

A fawn lying quietly in grass is also unlikely to be abandoned, as its mother may deliberately leave it hidden and return later. Young wild rabbits are similarly often left alone while their mothers search for food. Unnecessary handling can cause severe stress, and leaving a human scent may affect some species.

The same general caution applies to young squirrels and other wildlife.

National Park Brijuni stresses that protecting wild animals also means respecting their natural behaviour and life cycles. In many cases, the greatest help people can provide is simply to keep their distance and allow nature to take its course.

A wild animal baby may need its family more than it needs human intervention.