Staff at the Tucson Wildlife Center are looking after two days-old javelina who were separated from their herd, officials said.
The babies were left behind after the herd was scared away by dogs, and instead of leaving the area with the dogs, the owners picked up the javelina and took them home to care for them, according to a news release from the Tucson Wildlife Center.
Once the people realized that it was illegal to hold native wildlife, they took the babies- who still had their umbilical cords attached- to a local vet clinic who called the wildlife center, the release said.
Because the people who picked up the babies didn't leave their contact information or location where the javelina were found with the vet, staff at the wildlife center are unable to return them to their mother, and instead will be placed with the center's two adult javelina who have fostered hundreds of other orphaned babies, the release said.
Once the babies are old enough, they'll be released on a safe ranch site.
The wildlife center asks that people don't approach of pick up baby javelina if they're spotted, and leave the area so that the herd has a chance to return for the babies. If there's a safety concern, contact the Tucson Wildlife Center at 290-WILD.
