Cute little birds that fall from their nests. Baby squirrels that tumble from trees. Spotted fawns alone in the tall grass bleating for their mothers.

Despite the human tendency to mother baby animals, the Pennsylvania Game Commission says it's OK to look, but don't touch.

"In the coming months, it will become common to find young deer, rabbits, birds, raccoons or other wildlife that may appear to be abandoned," said Cal DuBrock, director of the Bureau of Wildlife Management. "Rest assured that in most cases, the young animal is not an orphan or abandoned and the best thing you can do is to leave it alone."

Adult animals frequently leave their young temporarily to forage. If a curious young animal wanders from its nest or hiding place, the parent will deal with it upon its return.

Also, said DuBrock, wildlife sometimes employ a natural defensive tactic that biologists call the "hider strategy." Young animals may remain motionless and hidden in cover, while the adult attempts to draw the attention of intruders away from their young.

"While it may appear as if the adults are abandoning their young," said DuBrock, "in reality this is just the animal using its natural instincts to protect its young."

Wild animals can spread parasites and diseases to humans, become infected by a human's touch or lose their natural fear of humans, posing later risks to humans and the animal.

Plus, kidnapping wildlife is illegal. Under state law, the penalty for possessing animals taken from the wild is a fine of up to $1,500 per creature.

"Under no circumstances will anyone who illegally takes wildlife into captivity be allowed to keep that animal," said Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Protection director Rich Palmer.

"While [people] love to view wildlife and are very compassionate, they must enjoy wildlife from a distance and allow nature to run its course."