There is a real temptation for some members of the public to feed wildlife because of the close contact they are able to have with the creatures they are feeding. Seeing wild birds or animals up close can be very engaging, but providing wildlife with human-supplied food generally leads to problems for both the wildlife and humans.
If young animals or birds depend on food from humans, they may not fully develop the essential foraging skills which allow them to survive independently. Wild animals or birds who get used to human feedings often lose their fear of people and may begin to approach humans to obtain food. This behavior may be mistaken as aggressive or rabid, which could lead to the animal’s demise.
Human food is also not nutritionally complete for wildlife, potentially depriving the creatures of needed nutrients. When a creature gets used to obtaining food at a certain source, it will return again and again, often bringing more of its same species on return trips. This can foster the spread of disease among the wildlife of that species, and even nearby humans and pets.
And in Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has rules and penalties that make it illegal to feed certain wild animals, including bears, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, pelicans, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, alligators, crocodiles, freshwater fish, wild monkeys, and manatees. Fines for violations start at $100.
In Florida it is illegal to:
• Feed wildlife or freshwater fish with food or garbage
• Attract or entice wildlife or freshwater fish with food or garbage
• Allow the placement of food or garbage in a manner that attracts or entices wildlife or freshwater fish
The first violation is a nominal civil infraction with a fine of $100; a second infraction is a criminal misdemeanor and involves a fine of up to $500 and imprisonment of up to 60 days. Four incidents yield a felony offense. Feeding alligators, crocodiles, and bears can lead to more severe criminal charges, higher fines, and more extensive imprisonment.
We are fortunate to share our environment here at Herons Glen with amazing wildlife and birds like “our” sandhill cranes. The best thing we can do to care for them is to give them habitat, not handouts.
