P a w s i t
i v e P e
t C a r e
Please Do Not Feed the Bears…
By Rose Navarro, RVT
…..Or the deer,
the squirrels, the
turkeys and other wildlife in the area. For most of us that live
here in the foothills, seeing wildlife is a daily occurrence. Our
local artists draw and paint them; photographers capture their
images in their native habitat, and are on display in our art
galleries. We love our wild-life.
We
enjoy watching deer peacefully grazing, or catching a glimpse of a
fox. Overhead, the mystical cry of a hawk reminds us of where we
live, and how lucky we are to be here. The sight of an occasional
bear or lion is thrilling, yet we are cautious to keep our
distance.
This is the season when animals are migrating, and storing food.
This season also tends make some humans want to feed our wildlife.
But providing artificial food sources can have serious consequences
for our wild animals.
Reasons Not to Feed Wildlife
It
is Illegal – Check the laws in your area; wildlife are protected.
Providing Food Causes Over-population and Disease – Which can lead
to starvation as a species may reproduce in great numbers,
attracted to large amounts of food. Disease comes to humans, as
animals become more numerous.
Artificial Diets Cause Damage and Death - As a form of
entertainment; many people feed human snack foods, or lure them to
areas near the home, where animals can find their way into garbage
cans, eating plastics, and other indigestible items that can result
in gastrointestinal obstruction. Cans and glass can cause mouth
injuries, and feeding foods with little or no nutritional value for
that animal is harmful to their growth and development.
Feeding Wildlife Alters the Animal’s Foraging and Migrating
Patterns – Causing animals to stop migrating, and therefore stop
eating foods that protect their immune system and promote health.
This has a detrimental effect on their instinctual behavior, and
also a negative effect on our environment, due to the
overpopulation and overeating in one area.
Humans and Animals Risk Injury - By engaging animals with
food, they may become more "friendly" and lose the ability to judge
natural human boundaries. Animals may be-come victims of poaching,
come to harm by abuse, or attack by domestic animals such as dogs.
Wild animals may attack humans or small children, bringing the risk
of bite injuries, infection and viruses such as rabies more likely.
The best way to respect and keep wildlife safe is to learn about
them. Contact your local wildlife group in your area; read up on
local wildlife behaviors, learn what you can do to preserve them.
Keep distance between you and your wildlife neighbors. Fence your
property or areas that contain domestic animals, gardens, out
buildings, barns, garbage cans, and other possible artificial or
dangerous food sources.
Keep children safe from parasites and viruses caused from animals
like raccoons. Ponds, fountains and containers of water such as
children’s small pools can be sources of contamination. If you see
an injured wild animal, call your local wild-life group for info on
how to handle the situation. Never feed, pick up or move an injured
wild animal. Enjoy our wildlife safely, at a respectful distance.
Keep them wild!
Rose Navarro is a
California State Registered Veterinary Technician with a Veterinary
medical background in Internal Medicine, Emergency and Critical
Care. She is the owner and operator of a local pet sitting service
in Amador County. She welcomes comments and questions.
Visit her
website at:
www.pawsitivepetcareservice.com
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