Wild baby critters are beyond adorable, and might seem helpless, but experts provide important tips for assessing the situation and handling it properly.

Spotting a baby animal in the wild immediately sparks a sense of wonder at their innocence and, let’s face it, all the other heart-led feels. So when we stumble upon a sweet creature that seems to be without a family, naturally we want to rush in and help.

An abandoned baby animal might, in fact, not be alone at all. Lynn Cuny is the founder and president of Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in San Antonio, Texas. If you found a wild animal nestled in the brush during your morning jog, it’s likely that the baby’s mama is nearby.

“In the vast majority of cases, if a human comes near a nest of babies, the mother will flee,” she says. “For example, anyone seeing a fawn sleeping under a tree, in a backyard, or anywhere may wrongly assume that she has been abandoned. What has happened is that the mother deer has fled when the people approached.” Cuny recommends that if you spot a baby wild animal, it’s best to leave them alone, assured they’re being cared for by their parents.

It’s essential to help our pets understand this message as well. Some dogs are bred as hunting companions, and cats have a natural predatory instinct. But in many circumstances, you can teach a dog through positive reinforcement training not to be so reactionary to other creatures around him, and the National Wildlife Federation recommends methods to help reduce cat and wildlife interactions.

“A baby bird, squirrel, or rabbit will often die once she has been bitten by a dog or cat,” Cuny says. “Keep dogs on a leash if they are in an area where wildlife live, and keep cats indoors so they cannot find and harm helpless birds, lizards, squirrels, and other wildlife.”

When to Help a Baby Animal

Are there times when humans should help baby wildlife? Yes, to a point. Let’s say you found a baby bird that fell out of its nest, or a baby squirrel that seems too young to scamper about. Cuny suggests making it easier for wild parents to find their lost critters by containing them.

“If you happen to see a baby bird or squirrel out of her nest, due to a storm or the cutting down of a tree, it is best to create a makeshift nest,” she says. “Use a small box with some soft bedding that you can secure up in a nearby tree and place the baby in the box to see if her parents will return to care for her.”

Often, a quick call to your state’s fish and wildlife organization or county animal assistance office will provide you with the proper steps to assist a particular creature. Then, you can simply keep an eye out for the grand reunion.

We’ve all heard that you shouldn’t handle baby wildlife with your bare hands, otherwise they’ll be rejected by their mothers. Cuny says this simply isn’t true. “Wild parents will not abandon their babies because they have been touched by a human. This is an old, false tale and needs to be dispelled.”

Elizabeth Manning of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game offered more details in her article on the department’s website. “This is essentially a myth, but one that no doubt started to help prevent people from disturbing wildlife,” she writes. Most bird species, for example, can’t smell well. And the majority of mammals accept the return of their babies without issue.

“Baby animals that have been handled by biologists are usually reunited with their mothers, who do not appear bothered by the biologists’ scent on their young,” Manning says. “Again, disturbance is the real problem.”

If you’ve found a baby bunny, a wild bird, or another wee creature who might need help, create a temporary shelter or nest with gentle, minimal movements so as to not frighten the creature any more than she probably is. Wearing gloves is often a good idea to avoid bites and scratches, and to prevent the spread of potential diseases. But if you don’t have time to grab a pair, just make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling an animal.

What to Do With an Injured Wild Baby Animal

There are times when you might find an injured baby animal, such as after a car accident or an encounter with a larger natural predator. Cuny recommends bringing in professionals.

“If you see any wild animal who you think is injured, call a local, licensed rehabilitator and have them provide assistance to the animal,” she says. “You can also contact your state wildlife agency for information on how to locate a rehabilitator.”

When might a baby wild animal need professional help? The Humane Society of the United States points to the following signs:

1. Your pet brings a wild animal to you.
2. The creature is shivering, bleeding, or has a broken limb.
3. A bird is on the ground featherless or nearly featherless.
4. The baby animal is crying and wandering around most of the day.
5. You spot a dead parent nearby.

Review the Humane Society’s checklist of best practices if you’ve found a baby wild animal or bird, which includes specific tips for baby deer, foxes, possums, rabbits, skunks, and squirrels. You’ll also learn how to handle the creatures and, if necessary, suggestions for calm transport.

It’s hard to hold back from petting any cute pooch, but these working dogs have a job to do.

If you’re anything like the editors of Daily Paws, it’s just part of your DNA to want to greet every dog you meet on the street with a hearty “Who’s a good boy?!” and a pat on the head. But there are some hound/handler teams who work in tandem to perform certain tasks, many of which are crucial for the safety, independence, or mobility of the dog’s owner. Interacting with either the dog or the person can be an unwelcome distraction to their day-to-day life.

Here’s why you can’t pet service dogs—even if you have the best intentions—and why it’s so important to give them their space.

Why Can’t You Pet Service Dogs?

Service animals are different from other pets. They are specially trained to perform tasks for their handlers (someone who uses a service animal), and these hardworking pups should be on the “do not disturb” list at all times. Depending on the needs of their owners, service dogs—also known as assistance dogs—are trained to perform a number of special tasks to increase the mobility and independence of their human companion. Guide Dogs of America, a nonprofit that provides service dogs for the visually impaired, veterans with PTSD, and people who are on the autism spectrum, notes that some of those tasks may even be life saving for their owners. And interacting with a working animal distracts them from doing that very important job.

Service dogs are working animals—when you engage with them, you could be risking the health or well-being of their owner.

What Should You Do Around Service Dogs?

First, give them their space. It’s hard to withhold from petting or talking to a cute dog—we get it. But remember that these dogs have an important job to do, and try to contain your excitement so as not to detract from their role assisting their owner. While service dogs may be well-trained to tune out distractions, it can still make it hard for them to concentrate if you are trying to get their attention through noise, gestures, or by reaching out to touch them.

Service dogs are not considered pets. Just as you wouldn’t ask to ride in a wheelchair, you should not ask to pet the dog.

Second, be polite. As a dog lover, it’s understandable you’d want to ask questions about the service dog, how they’re used, and what their training regiment is like. A dog with the ability to look both ways before crossing the street or prevent a health emergency is The Most Awesome Thing in the World—we agree! But take a pause before you ask someone about their assistance animal. They may not want to talk with every person about their service dog’s special training, or why they have one at all.

How Can You Tell If a Dog is a Service Animal?

Not all service dogs are created equal, but they are all protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). There are different kinds of service dogs that are trained to assist their owner with different types of tasks. Some service dogs help their owners with mobility, others assist with hearing or vision, and some are trained to alert their owners of oncoming seizures or act as a mental health instrument for their handler. But it may not always be obvious that a dog is working to provide assistance for their owner.

Many service dogs are identifiable by a service dog vest or a type of harness, though that’s not always the case. The ADA does not require that service animals wear any special ID tag, vest, or specific harness that would identify them as such. Additionally, the handler of the service dog is not required to have any self-identifying documents that they carry to “prove” their dog is a service animal.

The ADA has very clear guidelines on what is considered a service dog, and says a service dog “must be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability.” This means that a service dog is not the same as an emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animal.

When Is It OK to Pet Service or Assistance Dogs?

There may be times when it’s appropriate to interact with a service dog, though there are a few guidelines to consider before heading in for a scratch.

Some service dogs in training, including “puppy raisers” who help teach assistance animals basic obedience skills and how to behave in public before the pup is placed with their recipient, might bring the dog out in public to help socialize them. Haylee Bergeland, CPDT-KA, RBT, Daily Paws pet health and behavior editor and the executive director of the Iowa Human-Animal Bond Society, says that in the case of service dog training or socialization, the owner will ask that you approach the dog, not the other way around.

“In some circumstances, a handler may request that you interact with a dog to assist in socialization,” Bergeland says, “but not always. Don’t assume it’s OK to approach, play with, or pet a dog even if you know they’re a service dog in training.”

Bergeland says to also steer clear of service dogs—especially ones in training—if you have your own pooch with you. “In terms of service dogs in training, there is nothing more distracting than other dogs,” she says. “Second would be people, and the third is environment.” So unless you are specifically asked to play, pet, or pay attention to a future assistance dog, steer clear.

Another, more critical time it’s appropriate to interact with a service dog is if you find one without their owner. If you discover an unattended service dog, take immediate action as their handler may be in danger. Some service dogs are specially trained to go find help on behalf of their handler, and may nudge you or bark to get your attention. If this happens, fast action on your part is needed ASAP. Guide Dogs of America says that in this case, you should follow the dog, who is trained to take help to their owner. Assess the situation, and call 9-1-1 if their handler needs medical attention.

Rules to Remember When Interacting With a Service Dog:

1. DO: Give the dog space.
2. DO: Keep your composure. Don’t be loud and jump around.
3. DO: Ignore the dog, even if he tries to sniff you. Remember, service dogs have a job to do!
4. DO: Take immediate action if you find an unattended service dog. Their handler may be in danger and many assistance animals are specially trained to go find help.

Proper interaction with a working service dog starts with giving the specially trained pups the space they deserve. These special pups help keep their humans safe, and we owe it to both members of their team—person and pup alike—to give them our respect since they have such important jobs to do.