To people who have considered helping a wounded animal, Wes Bradford, a wildlife conflict specialist for Parks Canada, says “don’t do it.”

A man who delivered a fawn in New Brunswick after watching a truck kill its mother is now under investigation by the Department of Natural Resources.

More recently, a Saskatchewan man performed the same procedure, saving two fawns and taking care of them in his home.

But Bradford’s position is firm.

“Obviously the female deer is injured, so she’s probably going to have to be destroyed,” he said. “Then we’ll be looking for a rehab centre for that deer. Most of them don’t want the disease issues, so we’ll most likely end up destroying that fawn.”

Though it may be difficult, it’s best for people to continue on their way, Bradford said.

Janet Jones, veterinarian at the Jasper Veterinary Clinic agrees that people should interfere as little as possible with animals, and focus on preventing situations that cause animal injuries.

“I can understand people’s reasoning for it, because they think ‘I can save it’,” Jones said. “But we have to think seriously about what we’re going to do with it after.

“Because then you have an orphaned fawn, which is very difficult to raise and that animal may suffer and die from starvation or other problems because it hasn’t been with its mother.”

Regardless of intentions, those who interfere with wildlife can be charged with harrassment and fined under the National Parks wildlife regulation.

Even individuals with animal experience should avoid them because of their unpredictable nature, Bradford said.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of training you’ve got you can be injured,” he said. “They can kick you, or run out of the bush pretty quickly and aggressively.”

The only time people should get involved, Bradford said, is when they see an injured animal struggling at the side of the road.

“They should stop and turn their four-way flashers on so another vehicle doesn’t run over it,” he said. “Or if they have an aggressive encounter with an animal on a trail, stay at the trailhead and don’t let anybody else go down it.”

To report a wildlife emergency, Resource Conservation Services can be reached 24 hours a day at 852-6155.