By ‘helping’ wild animals, you could end their freedom or even their lives — here’s why you should keep your distance

<p>For anyone who enjoys nature, summer is a fascinating time to be outside. Animals are on the move: Turtles are nesting, baby birds are testing their wings, snakes are foraging and young mammals are emerging.</p> <p>In central Pennsylvania, where I live, last year&rsquo;s hatchling painted turtles have overwintered in their nests and emerged looking like tiny helpless snacks for raccoons and ravens. I&rsquo;ve already rescued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtIJe_eADFt/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">baby killdeer</a>&nbsp;&mdash; a shorebird that nests in parking lots &mdash; that ran off the road and got stuck in a grate. And I&rsquo;ve watched an eastern chipmunk prey on a nest of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Towhee/overview" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">towhee chicks</a>.</p> <p>I moved the killdeer to safety because it had fallen into what we call an &ldquo;ecological trap.&rdquo; Humans create these traps when we degrade habitat that looks suitable to animals. For killdeer, parking pads and roofs give off all the vibes of a great nesting site &mdash; except for the drains &mdash; and they have less natural habitat available these days.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/the-conversation/by-helping-wild-animals-you-could-end-their-freedom-or-even-their-lives-here-s-why-you-should-9bd1b11e9f71"><strong>Website</strong></a></p>