MADISON, Wis. — Concerns over coronavirus spreading from wildlife caretakers to animals in captivity have prompted the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to institute restriction on wildlife rehabilitation in the state.

In the Spring the DNR restricted bats from being rehabilitated. In August the DNR announced that the species of Felidae — which includes cats — and Mustelidae — which includes minks, otters, weasels, and badgers — could not be taken in by wildlife rehabilitation groups.

The DNR said concerns over humans transmitting the coronavirus to animals then releasing them to the wild could create an outbreak in populations of animals in those species. In other states the transmission occurred in animals like a Tiger in a New York Zoo and Mink in a Utah Mink Farm.

“Ultimately then there is the potential risk for that virus to be introduced into our native wildlife species here and having some potential impacts on populations,” said Amanda Kamps, Wildlife Health Conservation Specialist with the DNR.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Groups like Wild Instincts in Rhinelander are calling on the DNR to reconsider the ban on rehabilitating those animals.

“So the response of the DNR at this point now is to just leave them alone and let nature take its course, well a lot of this isn't nature,” said Mark Naniot, who co-runs Wild Instincts with his wife Sharon Larson.

Naniot said a lot of times injured or orphaned animals are in that position because of human activity — something like a domesticated dog eating an otter mother or a car hitting a bobcat. He also said it's not likely people will just leave some of these animals alone once they know a professional isn't coming for them.

“Now what we have to tell people is just let them alone, and let them die and there's nothing we can do about it,” Naniot said. “Well you know what's going to happen, people are not going to let these cute and fuzzy little animals die, they're going to take them themselves and raise them themselves.”

Naniot said since the DNR instituted the restrictions on taking in Felidae or Mustelidae animals they have had to tell people in four instances they can't help. Naniot knows in at least two of those situations a member of the public took in a bobcat cub themselves.

“It was very cold, wet, very weak, to tell them to sit and let it die and they could just watch it out their window, they were not going to do that,” Naniot said.

Naniot worries that can cause a host of other issues. For one it's not safe for an untrained person to care for a wild animal. He also worries about the spread of diseases like rabies or in a lot of cases worms to those people. Naniot also said untrained rehabilitators may cripple the wild animal by getting them too associated with people — something he and Wild Instincts take particular care not to do.

However, the DNR said this precaution comes as we're still learning a lot about the coronavirus and how it can impact and spread to animals.

“We're trying what we can do to protect the overall populations of our native animals in the state,” Kamp said.

Kamp said they're looking to conversations and information in surrounding states and nationally. She points out Wisconsin isn't the only state with similar precautions.

The DNR is looking to CDC guidelines on animals and considering recommendations from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which published suggestions including restrictions like the DNR has instituted.

“We are part of a larger conversation that's happening with other states, other organization, other agencies that are really looking at the risk assessment here,” Kamp said.

Kamp said the scientific community is learning more about the coronavirus and animals every day, and the DNR will look to developments to guide future decisions.

However, Naniot argues that professional wildlife rehabilitators like Wild Instincts are prepared to safely treat these animals without exposing them to a virus a human may be carrying. The organization instituted added safety precautions earlier this year and he believes most rehabilitators are able to treat the animals safely.

“So that's kind of the situation that we're facing right now,” Naniot said. “Trying to get the DNR to see that it's going to be better off getting into the hands of experts rather than the public taking matters into their own hands and trying to do the best they can.”

In the meantime, turning animals away he would normally treat is tough for Naniot.

“It breaks our heart to try to have to tell them there's absolutely nothing we can do,” Naniot said.

Wild Instincts set up a Facebook Page for people to petition the DNR to change the new rule.

The DNR asks people to contact their offices or a wildlife rehabilitation organization if they think they see an orphaned, injured or sick animal.