Here’s what to do — and not to do — if you find an animal nesting near your home this spring
As spring brings wildlife nesting season, experts advise people to observe animals from a distance and avoid disturbing nests or young. In suburban areas like Eagan, Minnesota, residents sometimes host nesting ducks or fawns, offering opportunities to learn about coexisting with nature. Officials stress that most animals do not need human intervention and that interference can be dangerous or illegal.
- ▪A mallard duck named Martha has nested near Caitlin Deal’s home in Eagan, Minnesota, for four consecutive years.
- ▪Wildlife experts recommend leaving nests and young animals alone, as parents often return and intervention can be illegal or harmful.
- ▪Aggressive behavior from protective animals like Canada geese, elk, and nesting alligators can pose risks to humans and pets.
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Lifestyle Here’s what to do — and not to do — if you find an animal nesting near your home this spring By Associated Press Published May 2, 2026, 3:32 p.m. ET For four years, a mallard has nested behind a bush near the front door of Caitlin Deal’s home in a Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb, offering an up-close glimpse of nature for her young son and lessons for how people can coexist with wildlife. The duck, dubbed Martha by the family, sits on her nest for about a month every spring in the tree-lined neighborhood of Eagan, Minnesota. After her eggs hatch around Mother’s Day, the birds toddle away.
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