Don’t Feed the Animals

Seeing someone toss food to birds or squirrels is probably something most of us have experienced--or maybe done ourselves. We've also all probably seen plenty of signs posted at parks, restaurants, or beaches asking us not to feed wildlife. So why do we still do it? And is it really a problem? Sara and Casey discuss the motivations for and consequences of feeding wild animals.

 

Resources for this episode:

Killing Deer With Kindness: article on changes in mule deer GI bacteria due to human feeding

Do's and Don'ts of Duck Feeding

Does Wedding Rice Make Birds Explode?

Feeding Wildlife Can Disrupt Animal Social Structures

A Framework to Evaluate Wildlife Feeding in Research, Wildlife Management, Tourism and Recreation