Repeat after me, “I will not touch the wildlife babies that may show up in my yard.”

With the arrival of warm weather, nature also is unveiling its newest residents, the baby bunnies, squirrels, raccoons, birds, fawns, skunks and foxes. Oftentimes homeowners may encounter the little ones in their own yards, alone without mama nearby. And the urge to help kicks in.

“You really should let them be,” says Rebecca Anderson, a naturalist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. “They might be out because they are old enough to be out.”

And, they might be alone not because they have been abandoned, but because the mother is trying to prevent predators from locating her young, according to Laura Simon, field director of the Urban Wildlife Program for the Humane Society of the United States.

An example she offers is this: Since fawns and bunnies have virtually no scent, the mothers will leave the babies alone for long periods of time so her scent won’t attract predators.

“Don’t jump to take action unless you know what you’re doing,” Ms. Simon says.

If you see fox kits (babies) in your yard, don’t assume they need help. They also are often left alone while the parents are out hunting. If you see a skunk alone, it’s often because it has lost sight of mom, Ms. Simon says. You can watch to see if the young one finds its den or mom returns.

If a baby bird has fallen out of a tree, gently return it to the nest if you can, Ms. Simon advises. If you can’t return it to the nest, you can secure a nest-size wicker basket close to where the original nest was.

“The parents should take over the new nest without a problem,” she says.

Also, it is a myth that once you touch a baby bird, the parents will reject it, Ms. Simon adds.

However, wild babies often end up orphaned because of human intervention, the experts say. While the urge to help can be overwhelming, Ms. Simon says there are two mistakes people make when they find wild babies. One is that they pick them up and move them and the other is that they cover the babies with a blanket or a towel.

“The mother can’t find them,” she says.

While it is sad, it is a fact of life that some of those wild babies may be injured or die in your yard.

“Don’t feel bad,” Ms. Anderson says, “it’s not your responsibility.”

Ms. Simon says domestic cats — yes, your pet — are one of the biggest threats to wild babies. Most mangled wild babies — 80 percent — are due to cats. Dogs, she says, cause 20 percent of the injuries.

“Please keep your cats inside forever,” Ms. Simon says.

If you still have an overwhelming urge to do something, you can call the Missouri Department of Conservation at 271-3100 for advice. But please don’t bring the animal to the conservation office, Ms. Anderson says.

For information about what you can do, log on to the Humane Society of the United States Web site at www.hsus.org. The site also lists a wildlife rehabilitators directory link.

Again, don’t jump to conclusions. Nature has its own way of dealing with life and death.

“Most people have very good intentions, but all too often human intervention can result in orphaned wildlife,” Ms. Simon says.

Lifestyles reporter Cathy Woolridge can be reached

at cathyw@npgco.com