Missouri Tells Public to Quit Feeding Wild Creatures

I love wildlife and try to do everything I can to help animals, but even I know that feeding wild creatures is a really bad idea. It appears that many haven't come to that conclusion as the state of Missouri has had to issue a warning about not feeding wildlife.

This new statement by the Missouri Department of Conservation is a simple one. Let wild animals remain wild. The problem isn't from pranksters trying to mess with animals. The real problem comes from good-hearted people that see a wild squirrel or bird or raccoon that they think is in distress and try to intervene.

“Human interference, even with good intentions, can often do more harm than good,” said Russell Duckworth, MDC protection regional supervisor. “It’s natural to want to help when you see a baby animal alone. But what many people don’t realize is that in most cases, the young are not abandoned, and their mothers are usually nearby, watching and waiting for humans to leave so they can safely return.”

They go on to warn against feeding wild animals either intentionally or collaterally. They're not talking about bird feeders, but people that leave food sources unsecured can create situations where hungry animals will start to behave in an unnatural way and start relying on human sources for food. This is especially a problem if you live in the southern half of Missouri where there are growing populations of black bears.

A bear can smell food from miles away and they are aggressive eaters. Most bears avoid human contact, but they are aggressive eaters and will seek out reliable food sources. If that's near your home, that will not end well for you or the bears and that's true for most wild animals. We have bird feeders at our home and are now targeted by raccoons and possums at night sometimes. Wild creatures that are hungry have great memories on where food sources are. The warning from the state of Missouri is a good one to live by and keep in mind.