Pet Talk: The joy and troubles of feeding wildlife

From College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University


The beauty of nature is awe-inspiring and magical. It is no wonder we try to get as close to it as possible. While feeding wild animals can be rewarding, there are precautions you should take to ensure your safety, as well as that of the animals you are feeding.

“You, of course, don’t ever want to feed any kind of a dangerous animal like a bear or a wild hog,” warns Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon, Clinical Associate professor at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “But some animals, such as birds and squirrels, are perfectly acceptable to feed and can be a great joy to watch.”

It’s important to note that while feeding some animals is acceptable, it should always be from at a distance.

Blue-McLendon advises: “Never feed wild animals out of your hand. Any animal can mistake your hand for food, and you don’t want to be accidentally bitten. You also don’t want an animal to think food is at the end of your fingers because they might think you have food when you don’t or that your hand is part of the food.”


“If you are going to feed any animal, it is best that you give them food that is formulated for them, or stick with fruits and vegetables,” states Blue-McLendon. “Most feed stores carry special food for ducks, birds and other wild animals.”

If you are feeding animals such as peacocks and ducks by throwing food toward them, there is a possibility they may become aggressive if they know you have food.

“If you encounter an aggressive animal, you should first try noise-aversion to chase them off. If they don’t respond, then just put the food down and walk away,” advises Blue-McLendon.

While feeding wild animals from feeders is the best way to protect your body, if you are feeding animals outside your home, they can still damage your house and landscape.

“You want to be careful when attracting any animals to your house,” warns Blue-McLendon. “Squirrels can chew on houses and deer have been known to get into landscaping and eat valuable plants such as roses and daylilies.”

Once these animals come into urban settings and destroy property, they are known as nuisance wildlife and can cause hundreds of dollars of damage. Because this is a problem in many areas, there are a variety of companies that deal with the removal of these animals. However, if you do have a problem, the best way to get rid of the animals is to simply remove the food source.

“I would advise that if you live in the city you only feed birds,” explains Blue-McLendon. “Squirrels can still be a problem around bird feeders, but they should not draw other wildlife. It really depends upon a person’s situation, though, because if you live in the country and you want to attract things like deer you can find landscaping and plants that are deer-resistant.”


“Some zoonotic diseases can cause severe neurological disease for other animals, so it’s important to keep wild animals away from your pets,” states Blue-McLendon. “They don’t even have to bite your pet to infect them. For example, one intestinal parasite that raccoons carry is a cause of neurological problems in animals.”

Watching squirrels climb up trees and beautiful birds flying around your home can be an entertaining and peaceful experience. By making sure you are protecting yourself, your property and the animals you can make sure the experience continues to be a positive one.


From the Feb. 3-9, 2010 issue.

Enjoy The Rock River Times? Help spread the word!