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8/3/2019 February 2006 Greenspace Insider, Cambria Land Trust
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Volume 5, Number 7
The Insider
February 2006
WHY A WILDLIFE FEEDING ORDINANCE MAKES SENSE
People who decide to live in areas like Cambria often come
from urbanized areas. It is reasonable to think that many of us
share similar reasons why we end up living in Cambria – some
of the reasons are because of the beauty of the forest and
agriculture open spaces, the coastline, the land and ocean
based wildlife, the fact that Cambria is not congested with
traffic and people, and that we do not have all the issues that
cities seem to have these days.
Recently there have been many articles and educationaldiscussions concerning mountain lions, coyotes, deer, rac-
coons and other wildlife that share the
same space. Through the media many
people have expressed views on what
should be done or not done. Whether you
agree or disagree with the various opin-
ions there seems to be a common thread
that links these concerns and that is we
have an abundant number of critters that
live in the same environment that we make
our homes.
How to lessen the conflict betweenwildlife and humans seems to be at the
root of the problem given that humans
will continue to encroach into space here-
tofore used by wildlife. As an organiza-
tion whose mission is to protect and enhance the areas eco-
logical systems through education, management, and advo-
cacy we think that there are common sense solutions to wild-
life and human conflict. One of these solutions is a “feeding
ordinance”.
Many cities and jurisdictions have written and implemented
wildlife feeding ordinances into their general plans and, as we
understand them, these laws have been measurably success-
ful in lessening conflict with wildlife and lessening other wild-
life issues.
Here are some reasons why feeding wildlife is not in your
best interest and certainly not in the animals’ best interest:
An ordinance that prohibits feed
ing animals would certainly decrease
the number of deer in Cambria and
result in fewer predators whose main
diet are deer. Fewer animal death
from automobiles may be anothe
benefit from an ordinance. The or
dinance need not be punitive to star
but habitual offenders could be cited and fined after warnings
Keeping a balance of wildlife with the natural food supply is a
key principle when sharing space with other critters. Supple
mental feeding of deer, raccoon and other wildlife may provide
entertainment for you but the reality is when numerous people
behave similar wildlife becomes trained not to fend for them
selves and become attractants and easy prey for predators like
mountain lions and coyotes.
The Animal Protection Institute, with support from
Greenspace-the Cambria Land Trust, is helping to bring aware
ness about this issue to San Luis Obispo County and to educate
local legislators about why a wildlife feeding ordinance would
help curb wildlife conflicts. For more information about how you
can help with this effort, contact Camilla Fox, Director of Wild
life Programs with the Animal Protection Institute at 916-447
3085, ext. 215 or via email at [email protected] . For more
information about how to coexist with wildlife, visit the Anima
Protection Institute’s website at www.coexistingwithwildlife.org
- Nature provides a natural food source to keep populations
of animals balanced while random supplemental feeding by
humans can cause populations to increase thereby
creating habituated artificial stocks of animals.
- Wild animals have specialized diets and providing pro-
cessed human food can create an animal to become
habituated to human feeding that may escalate conflicts
between animals and humans.
- Feeding causes wildlife to lose their natural fear of
humans.
- We risk injury or disease when wild animals are invited
into close proximity to people.
- Providing food in residential areas can lead to property
damage and unwelcome wild “houseguests.”
- Feeding may cause injuries and harmful interactions
between wildlife species.- Feeding prey species (e.g.,
deer) can attract predators like
mountain lions and coyotes into
our residential areas.
- Feeding can result in crowd-
ing and easy transmission of
diseases between animals and thus
more frequent disease outbreaks.
Photograph by Camilla Fox
8/3/2019 February 2006 Greenspace Insider, Cambria Land Trust
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