We had a squee moment a couple weeks ago when our Project Wild America students came across a pair of baby meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) in our path along the Chadakoin River. According to an old wives tale, handling baby wildlife will deter the mother from returning, due to the human scent, ultimately leaving the little ones for dead. Thankfully, these tales are far from true. While it is best practice to leave little ones where you find them, picking them up isn’t a death sentence. Our students were alerted to the voles as they were squeaking from within the grass clump they were hiding in. Upon closer inspection, our crew found the two individuals and scooped them up to inspect them, making sure they hadn’t accidentally gotten stepped on. After determining both babies were in good shape, our students returned each of them to where they were found.
Elyse Henshaw
Conservation Technician
