When encountering a wild animal, whether it’s a raccoon, hare, duck or hummingbird, one can be tempted to feed it. However, while seemingly harmless, and in some circumstances beneficial, feeding wildlife can also have negative repercussions. It is important to be informed to know whether our actions are having a positive or negative impact on wildlife.
What's the harm in feeding wild animals?
A seemingly harmless gesture, feeding the wildlife with good intention can have negative repercussions on both the animal and ourselves.
- Such a dietary change can create a source of stress for the animal;
- It can cause the animal to become food-dependent and to stop looking for food on its own;
- It can cause the animal to lose interest in its natural diet
- The food provided to the animal might be ill-suited for their nutritional requirements (for example, bread is the equivalent of junk food for ducks);
- It can disturb their population and migration;
- It can attract large numbers of animals to the same area, which can increase the spread of disease between them.
- It can make the animal lose its fear of humans, putting us at risk of aggressive behaviours;
- It can increase the presence of predators in the area, such as the coyote;
- It exposes us to the risk of harmful disease transmission, such as rabies;
- It can lead to physical injuries, as the animal may not be able to tell the difference between your fingers and the food they’re being handed.
Attracting songbirds
Songbirds, such as hummingbird, have a different foraging behaviour than aquatic birds, which makes them less vulnerable to human actions. Songbirds also have a more nomadic lifestyle, travelling through different food station networks without staying long, and taking advantage of each location. When putting up a birdfeeder:
- Get information on the nutritional needs of the songbird you would like to attract (for example, honey is bad for hummingbirds);
- Ensure that its location is not accessible to predators;
- You can replace the feeder with native plant in your garden that the songbird like.
- A source of fresh drinking water can also be beneficial if it’s maintained and clean, making sure to change the water regularly.
Wildlife's DOs and DON'Ts
It’s best to enjoy wildlife from afar by observing it without interfering. However, it is always good to be informed of what should be done and what should be avoided. The following is a list of tips you can apply to enjoy wildlife:
- Grow plants and vegetables that are safe for their consumption in your garden;
- Keep your feeding facilities clean and sanitary to prevent the transmission of diseases;
- Keep the food dry, remove wet and mouldy foods;
- Place feeding facilities out of the reach of predators;
- Create habitats or shelters by planting trees or shrubs to provide protection from temperatures and predators;
- Leave a source of fresh and clean drinking water;
- Inform yourself before taking any action, for your own safety and that of the wildlife.
- Don't leave food residues in your compost;
- Don't leave your pets' food outside, especially overnight;
- Don't let fallen tree fruits accumulate on the ground;
- Don't hand feed animals;
- Don't try to domesticate a wild animal;
- Don't feed bread to ducks.
Resources
Reference
- Gouvernement du Québec, les animaux sauvages n’ont pas besoin de votre aide!, 2023.
- BCSPCA, Don’t feed the wildlife, 2022.
- Toronto Wildlife center, should you feed wildlife?, 2023.
- Gouvernement des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, ne nourrissez pas les animaux sauvages, 2014.
- Gouvernement de l’Ontario, Feeding wildlife : do and don’ts, 2022.
- Ville en vert, Nourrir les animaux sauvages en ville : mythes et réalités, 2022.
- PROWLS, hummingbird feeders : don’t use honey!, 2021.
- Iowa state university, Feeding wildlife, 2023.
- U.S department of agriculture, Don’t feed wildlife, 2023.
