When the wind is raging and snow is covering the ground, it’s
tempting to try and help the animals that inhabit your community by leaving
food out for them to eat. While it’s true that wildlife has a more difficult
time finding food during the colder months when there is less vegetation and
snowfall covers what is available, feeding wildlife can actually be detrimental
to the ecosystem and do more harm than good.
Here are a few reasons why you should avoid
feeding wildlife this winter:
Overpopulation
One way nature keeps species’ populations
healthy is through natural selection. Feeding wildlife can cause overcrowding,
which can then lead to disease transfer and animals congregating in herds. This
in turn could then lead to them becoming a target for predators. Depending on
where you live, these predators could include mountain lions or grizzly bears.
Disease
transfer
Putting food out for wildlife means that the
animals are no longer looking for food across a wide landscape and, instead,
are all congregating in one place. This can cause disease to spread more
rapidly. Some diseases, such as Chronic Wasting
Disease in deer, are difficult to eliminate once
introduced and can even transfer to humans.
Behavior
modification
If animals learn that they can come to your
home for food, then they may forget to migrate or follow other natural
behaviors. Feeding wildlife can also cause animals to become more aggressive
toward one another and be less wary of humans, which disrupts the natural
order.
Putting
wildlife at harm
Feeding wildlife can be dangerous for both
humans and animals, especially when the food source is close to a road. Wildlife shouldn’t be drawn
toward traffic areas, where they can put themselves in harm and also cause damage to vehicles and drivers. Feeding
wildlife may also make it tempting to pet or tame wild animals. Always
remember that wild animals are just what the name implies - wild! Never try to
approach a wild animal or keep one as a pet.
It’s
illegal
To prevent people from feeding wildlife, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
has made it illegal to intentionally feed deer, bear and moose in New York State. To learn more about
deer and moose feeding, click here.
And to learn more about bear feeding regulations, click here.
While it isn’t advisable to feed wildlife,
there are still a handful of ways you can help your animal neighbors. Here’s
how you can help the natural ecosystem in a beneficial way:
Provide
water
If you have a bird bath, heat it. Not only
will birds appreciate this accommodation, but other animals will take advantage
of the water, which is difficult to come by in below freezing temperatures. You
could also consider building a small pond in your yard.
Feed
the birds
While you are advised to avoid feeding larger
wildlife species, feeding birds is perfectly OK and encouraged! During the
winter months, birds may find it difficult to find berries and other natural
food sources. Feeding birds is an inexpensive way to help the wildlife in your
area. You can even make your own bird food!
If you live in a cold-weather climate, then
you know there is a lot to consider when prepping for the winter months. Click
on the button below to learn more about preparing your home for winter.
