Parks all across the world post signs saying “don’t feed the animals”. Why you ask, because bad things will happen! The most important and destructive result is when humans feed wild animals they grow to expect it. And what happens when there isn’t any left or when they come looking for food unexpectedly? Well, we have all seen it on Nat Geo and it isn’t pretty.
The results from feeding animals outside your home usually ends up with similar but not so deadly consequences. For example, a women who feeds the duck in her pond everyday will create a following and soon many ducks will show up for their daily meal. What happens to the food left behind? How many different types of wildlife prey on ducks? Start feeding them and you will find out. Rats feast on foods left behind from bird feeders and folks “just feeding the ducks” drawing them closer to their home and eventually hosting them in the attic. Opossums, snakes and raccoons all eat rats so they won’t be far behind. Soon you have created wildlife issues for yourself and your neighbors. Our staff at Animals in the Attic has witnessed this effect countless times. It usually seems to be the next door neighbor who gets the wildlife issue due to someone in the area feeding ducks, birds or squirrels. Whenever we ask do you have a bird feeder or feed the ducks they always seem to know what neighbor is the culprit. So, take the warning signs from every park on the planet and don’t feed the animals!