These defenses, however, are sometimes not enough to protect fawns from wild predators or well-intentioned humans who "rescue" the animals from their tallgrass hideaways because they appear to have been abandoned by their mothers. In most cases - be it white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbits or some other species - the young haven't been deserted, and mom is likely watching discretely nearby, waiting for intruders to move on.

It's illegal to take wild animals home, and captive animals later returned to the wild, biologists say, will struggle to survive because they do not possess learned survival skills. The best advice - and this goes for all wild baby animals - is to not touch them.

Most of the time, young animals found alone are not abandoned, reports Jeb Williams, North Dakota Game and Fish Department outreach biologist. "Young wildlife are purposely placed into seclusion by their mothers to protect them from predators."

A doe will often move her young twice a day for about the first month of life, trying to stay one step ahead of predators. She will also visit a couple times a day to nurse. These visits are short, reducing the chance of her young being discovered.

A fawn that is touched, biologists say, will be taken back by its mother. But a fawn that is removed by humans from the wild faces a bleak future. "While we understand and are sympathetic to one's feelings on this issue," Williams added, "the best advice we can offer is to let Mother Nature work."

Female rabbits make a nest by scraping out a shallow depression in the ground, lining it with grasses and fur. Young are born naked, blind and nearly helpless. But they develop rapidly, enabling mom to move from the nest to eat. So, if you stumble upon a hideout of cute bunnies, move on because mom, like the whitetail doe, will be back.

The same care should be afforded to neighborhood-nesting songbirds. If a young falls, or is pushed from its nest, it should be left alone. Biologists say the only time a person should pick up a baby songbird is if it's found on their doorstep. Then it should be moved nearby to suitable habitat.

Handling wildlife is risky as wild animals can transmit a variety of diseases to humans, and aggressive actions are typical of mothers protecting their offspring.

Motorists are also reminded to watch for deer along roadways. June and November are the peak months for deer-vehicle accidents because young animals are dispersing from their home ranges. With deer more active during these months, the potential for car-deer collisions increases.

Things happen in the wild for a reason. Young are purposefully isolated from their caregivers to be given a better chance to dodge animals that want to eat them. And sometimes, despite the best nature-made camouflage and nearly odorless beginnings, the cute are found.