Is It Ok To Feed Wildlife?

Did you know that having a simple bird feeder in your yard could be attracting a wide range of wildlife? Although more than 40% of homeowners in the United States have some kind of feeder in use, many aren't familiar with important practices to reduce attracting other critters like, raccoons, and even bears and deer. While it can be exciting sight to see a curious creature poking around your bird feeder one morning, it can be very dangerous for your household, and the animals can bring you some unwanted trouble. 

Most people don't realize wild animals aren't likely to stick to a designated bird feeder when poking around for a meal. Allowing them to return and become familiar with your property could encourage them to poke around trash cans, patios, and your cars or front doors in some unfortunate cases. If you're unfamiliar how to animal-proof your yard, wildlife professionals like Veteran's Pride Wildlife can provide guidance and assistance in redeveloping an environment that's responsible for both you and the animals. 

According to the US Department of Agriculture, wandering wildlife in populated areas shouldn't be left to roam. While enticing for most creatures, human food can actually be very harmful to their digestive system and instincts. Processed and fatty foods aren’t nutritious enough, and they are fueled with empty calories and preservatives that the animals aren’t able to properly digest. Their instincts can become dulled, leading wildlife to lose their fear of humans which then increases the risk of danger and encourages them to return to populated areas.

Additionally, allowing repeat visitors can encourage them to seek human contact more. Between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, there were about 1.9 million animal collision insurance claims. Most of us have heard stories of a deer causing a major wreck on the road at night, but bears, elk, and opossums can run into trouble during most times of the day. It can cause a lot of turmoil if they're patrolling the streets searching for the house that leaves out leftovers. 

Then there are families that put cat food or other scraps directly on their porch in hopes of comforting strays. Others leave their pet food and water out at all times. Whether you live in a rural town or a dense city, this can encourage larger pests like raccoons or rats. The possibility of those creatures fighting for the food increases, and you wind up with injured or diseased wildlife at your door. They can also turn their attention to an unsuspecting pet. This brings about the potential to infect you and your household even with minimal interaction.

Not only should you avoid leaving out food, but you should take additional steps to protect your outdoor trash cans and garbage areas so clever creatures like opossums and raccoons can't dig into a late-night snack. Not only that, but in the wild, reproduction rates are directly affected by the amount of available food. By providing a constant food source, intentionally or not, you are helping to create a population that could not be sustained in the wild.

Whether you're working with an insistent bear or a family of raccoons, it's important to have the right support on hand. Trying to take care of the problem yourself with locally purchased traps or enclosures can risk damage to your property and create health hazards to your family, and also unnecessary harm to the wildlife in your area. With a trained and experienced industry expert, you're helping ensure the quality of life for you and the surrounding environment. In many states, trapping is carefully monitored so there is a positive balance between the public spaces and nearby wildlife surrounding them.

Whenever the seasons begin to change, you may see an increase in unwanted guests and pests making their way onto your property and into your home, especially if they have been well-fed there. It could be to find a warm place to hide for the winter, a safe area to have babies in the spring, a shaded crawl space to burrow in for summer, or a hidden storage area for food in the fall. These animals continuously looking for an easy food source while browsing the potential real estate. 

When living in a comfortable environment, your security measures should extend past your front porch. In Illinois, Veteran's Pride Wildlife Control is rated the #1 wildlife trapping and removal service. Family operated and veteran-owned, our mission is ensuring a quality balance of harmony between us and nature. With over 25 years of residential and commercial experience, we're dedicated to identifying the problem, solving your dilemma, and putting prevention measures in place. Contact our team today for more information on our wildlife control procedures and offers.