Do NOT Feed Wildlife!

This holiday weekend, we know many of you will be traveling to National Parks and other wilderness areas. It is important that you NOT feed the wildlife!

►Problems from wildlife often increase with the availability of food, and feeding could result in an attack, damaged property, and often the death of the animal.

►“When there are conflicts between humans and wild animals, the animals lose,” said Allan Buckmann, DFG associate wildlife biologist. “Don’t feed wild animals. They don’t need our handouts, they need our respect. We all need to take responsibility for the wild animals whose habitat we share. When humans are careless, wild animals may pay the price.”

►Animals that become accustomed to feed will expand their activities to find more feed and can damage fences and structures, and threaten human safety in the process. Such behavior by well‑meaning people puts the animals at unnecessary risk and often disrupts the natural survival instincts of the animal.

►“It’s never a good idea to feed wildlife; it’s as simple as that,” DFG Lt. Don Richardson said. “When people feed wildlife, the wildlife becomes habituated to that source of food, and that can lead to animals that are unnaturally bold or develop aggressive behavior. That type of aggressive behavior results in conflicts between wildlife and humans, and that, most often, leads to the death of the animal.”

►So remember, the candy or cracker tossed their direction has a big effect on wildlife, from opening visitors up to attack (and then euthanization of the animal due to visitors negligence), and can also lead to reproductive and other internal problems for the animal that visitors carelessly feed. Practice Leave No Trace - be a good partner with wildlife - show your respect!