Your intentions may be good – but feeding wild animals is a bad idea for both humans and animals

Because wildlife are generally and normally wary of humans in urban areas, feeding them would break down those fear barriers and encourage wildlife to rely on people for their food, instead of finding natural food sources.

By losing their natural fear of people and pets, it can result in aggressive behaviour and conflicts, which could lead to injury and even death.

While some municipalities have a by-law in place prohibiting anyone from feeding wildlife, Timmins does not.
The MNRF’s Adriana Pacitto lists the dangers of feeding bears – or any other wildlife

  • Attract “unwanted” animals to your property, such as predators in search of food
  • Cause property damage and costs if animals must be removed, since animals want to live close to food sources
  • Increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents, resulting in property damage, injury or death
  • Increase the risk that small pets are seen as food by wild animals
  • Cause problems for your neighbours, if animals learn to associate humans with food they may become aggressive
  • Disrupt animals’ normal travel and migration routes
  • Be unhealthy for the animals, since the food people provide is often the wrong kind for wildlife.

Attracting concentrations of wild animals can also:

  • Increase the chance of spreading parasites and disease
  • Cause damage to the surrounding habitat – including neighbours’ gardens, shrubs and trees.

What can you do to help wildlife?

  • Appreciate wildlife from a safe distance. Artificially attracting wild animals to your backyard or home can make them seem like pets – but they’re not.
  • Help keep wild animals wild by not approaching, attracting or feeding them.
  • Some municipalities may have by-laws that prohibit people from feeding wildlife.What you should do?
    -Make outdoor garbage containers wildlife-proof
    -Keep garbage in shed or garage with secure lids, covered composter
    -Wait until pickup day before putting garbage on curb, rather than the night before

Photo Source:
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