Date: 5/30/08
Contact: C. Douglas Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127, ext. 3500

FEEDING WILDLIFE A BAD IDEA

Everyone has seen or heard reports about well-meaning people who feed wildlife and end up getting hurt in the process. These circumstances have involved human casualties caused by black bears to people getting butted by bighorn sheep during rutting season and kids getting nipped by geese at the local park. Even the smallest of critters can inflict injury.

“Many of us also have heard stories of folks befriending the squirrels and other small animals in the neighborhood, but we have to remember that they are able to bite or scratch, and some, especially rodents, can carry disease,” said Margie Klein, wildlife educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

Feeding wildlife is a bad idea for some other reasons as well. According to the NDOW “Keep Me Wild” program, a simple bag of garbage, bowl of pet food, or plate of leftovers left outside your home can cause severe harm to wildlife. Many wild animals can’t digest human food. Eating it can cause digestive problems, provide improper nutrition, and even kill an animal.

Additionally, wild animals that have access to human food and garbage often exhibit behavioral changes. They generally lose their fear of people and may even cause property damage or threaten human safety. Coyotes and bobcats are known to visit yards of homes that are located near the edge of town when they are hungry and thirsty. Leaving food or water for them will encourage them to stay nearby and can put pets at risk.

Bears are famous for pilfering food stores and rummaging through garbage containers at campsites. Repeatedly finding food in these areas can condition bears to the presence of people, and that can cause a bear to aggressively protect what it has come to depend upon as a food source. Leaving food out for wildlife will also attract raccoons, ringtail cats and other wild critters.

“Feeding wildlife can lead to dependency of the wildlife on an unnatural food source. Baiting animals with food just to bring them in close is very unwise. Being dependent on that food source can eventually make them unwilling to find their own food,” said Fred Henson, NDOW game warden.

More information can be found online at NDOW’s Keep Me Wild website: http://www.ndow.org/wild/kmw/index.shtm.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.