Hi Seal Beach,
We’re back this week with a friendly reminder about feeding wildlife. Recently, we have received a few complaints about people in town feeding birds and other wild animals. Not only do we have a Municipal Code section which prohibits this, but it is also dangerous for the animals which we share our neighborhoods with.
According to the USDA:
Feeding wildlife can lead to a number of serious problems.
• Human food is not healthy for wild animals, and they do not need food from humans to survive. Wild animals have specialized diets, and they can become malnourished or die if fed the wrong foods. Also, animals cannot distinguish food from wrappers or foil and can get sick eating these items.
• Feeding leads to public health concerns. Too many animals in one place increases the chance of disease transmission to people and among other wildlife.
• Animals accustomed to people often lose their fear of people and can become aggressive. Those that become too aggressive may have to be destroyed to protect people and property.
• Animals fed along roads tend to stay near roads, increasing the chance of vehicle-animal accidents.
• Large concentrations of ducks and geese can pollute nearby waterways, backyards and athletic fields. Some waterfowl species drop up to a pound of feces every day!
Many people enjoy living near and watching wildlife. You can help keep animals wild by keeping the following tips in mind.
• Do not encourage wildlife by feeding or leaving food for them.
• Don’t allow bird food to accumulate on the ground.
• Don’t place food scraps in gardens or compost bins, and use a closed compost bin.
• Keep pet food and water containers indoors, especially at night.
• If you have fruit trees, harvest or dispose of fruit when it is ripe.
• Use metal or durable plastic trash containers with tight fitting lids.
• Enjoy viewing wildlife at a distance. Respect their space and remember they are wild animals that should stay wild.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website: “The feeding of wildlife is highly discouraged by CDFW because handouts by well-meaning people can result in wildlife losing their natural fear of humans. Animals that feed on human sources of food may lose their ability to forage naturally.”
Please help us educate the community by spreading this message.If you see a violation, please call our non-emergency number (562) 594-7232.For non-urgent issues, please email us at animalcontrol@sealbeachca.gov.
Keep your questions coming Seal Beach!Email us at askacop@sealbeachca.gov today!
