DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE
From
Hatboro
Sent
Tue, Mar 31 @ 9am
Description
Just a reminder, persons should not approach or feed wildlife in the Borough.
Feeding Wildlife is generally discouraged because it can harm animals, disrupt natural behaviors, and post health risks to humans.
Why Feeding Wildlife Can be Harmful:
Feeding wild animals, even with good intentions, can lead to serious consequences. Wild animals have specialized diets, and human food often lacks the nutrients they need, which can cause malnutrition, digestive issues, or deformities such as "angel wing" in waterfowl (birds) when fed bread or processed foods. Feeding also encourages animals to congregate unnaturally, increasing the risk of disease transmission, including avian influenza, salmonella, distemper, and mange.
Behavioral and Safety Concerns:
Animals that become accustomed to human handouts may lose their natural fear of people, leading to dangerous encounters. They may approach homes, roads, or pets, increasing the risk of injury or death for both wildlife and humans. Juvenile animals may fail to learn essential survival skills, such as foraging for natural food, if they rely on human-provided meals. Feeding can also attract nuisance species like raccoons, deer, and mice, which can damage property and create conflicts.
Health Risks to Humans:
Wildlife can carry parasites and diseased that affect humans. For example, raccoons may carry raccoon roundworm, and animals like deer and raccoons can host ticks that transmit Lyme disease. Handling or coming into contact with wildlife or their droppings increases the risk of exposure.
Safe Alternatives:
Instead of feeding wildlife directly, support their natural habitats:
1. Plant native trees, shrubs, and flowers to provide natural food and shelter.
2. Maintain clean yards and secure garbage to prevent accidental feeding.
3. Feed pets indoors and remove leftover food from barbecues and compost areas.
4. Observe wildlife from a distance to enjoy nature without interfering with their natural behaviors,
While there are no specific issues currently, we wanted to remind everyone that with the nicer weather, there are more people out walking pets, in our parks as well as kids playing.
This notification was posted by Hatboro. Hatboro is solely responsible for this notification and unless specifically indicated, no other community or individual utilizing Savvy Citizen is sponsoring, responsible for, or endorsing this notification.
