Don't feed the wildlife
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
Rockingham, Australia
June 14, 2018 4:33pm CST
There is a notice at the car park in the Freycinet National Park asking tourists not to feed the wildlife. Although this was once encouraged, it is now known that unnatural foods can make them very sick. Possums, wallabies and kangaroos develop a condition known as ‘lumpy jaw’ which renders them unable to chew or swallow.
It is obvious the Bennetts wallabies have remembered the days when they were given handouts as one hopped towards our car as we arrived. Others hopped along behind walkers as they made their way towards the various walks.
Possums and kangaroos can become a nuisance if they become too tame and will pilfer food from campsites. They may even become aggressive if food is not forthcoming. At one West Australian camping ground, kookaburras have been known to swoop under an awning and swipe meat from a barbecue.
25 people like this
23 responses
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
15 Jun 18
Hi Judy. Animals can really be aggressive if people will continue to feed them. It goes against their natural habitat?
4 people like this
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
17 Jun 18
@JudyEv Thank you, Judy. In Palawan, there are monkeys and some lizards. We were told not to give them food too and not to bring any food because the monkeys can really be aggressive.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jun 18
@mlgen1037 I know monkeys can give a really nasty bite. I'm not very fond of them really.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Jun 18
There is the same issues with American wildlife.
4 people like this
@popciclecold (40215)
• United States
15 Jun 18
That would scare me so bad. I don't want to get near animals that bold.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
15 Jun 18
People here do that also. I have heard of a few bears having to be destroyed for that reason. They lost their fear of man which made the extremely dangerous.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Jun 18
Hopefully less and less people will feed them so they eventually stop their begging behaviour.
@allknowing (153544)
• India
15 Jun 18
We too have that rule when we visit zoos here
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Jun 18
Yes, our foods are not suited to their digestive systems.
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
17 Jun 18
We have areas in the UK where we are not allowed to feed the ducks bread. Apparently it is very bad for them although I always did it as a child. How things change.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
18 Jun 18
@JudyEv I feed the garden birds all the time with bread that goes stale. I hope it isn't doing them any harm.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jun 18
@sprite1950 You might want to check with an expert. I think seeds and nuts might be more healthy for them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Jun 18
Apparently bread isn't good for birds but they do seem to love it.
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
15 Jun 18
i hope people do as they are suppose to
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15826)
• Manchester, England
15 Jun 18
Oh no! Vince will starve!! You have to get out of there!! 
It became quite a thing in the UK to go to a beach notorious for pilfering seagulls and see how far you could run with a french fry in a raised hand before a seagull caught you and stole the tasty morsel.
I suspect there will be videos on youtube.
It became quite a thing in the UK to go to a beach notorious for pilfering seagulls and see how far you could run with a french fry in a raised hand before a seagull caught you and stole the tasty morsel.
I suspect there will be videos on youtube.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Jun 18
I'll have to go have a look. We had some pretty cheeky parrots once that would wait till you weren't looking then pilfer a chip or two. We were well aware of the one in the photo so we're just as guilty as anyone else about feeding wildlife. We don't do it any more though.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
15 Jun 18
Around here we have to make sure not to feed the two-legged wildlife--hahaha! They become too friendly and end up at your doorstep at all hours. lol!
2 people like this
@Starmaiden (9308)
• Canada
14 Jun 18
It is wise to not feed wild animals. They lose their natural instinct to hunt for themselves. People here are not supposed to feed the ducks, swans and other birds but they do. Now these birds won't migrate in the autumn. They stay here year round and it is not good for them. 
2 people like this
@popciclecold (40215)
• United States
15 Jun 18
That is something, I never knew that.
3 people like this
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
21 Jun 18
Aww that is so sad that some human foods can do that to the kangaroo. The little one in the photo is so cute it definitely would make you want to toss it some treats. Just the sign would not be enough for me unless I heard it could make them sick like that so they may need to write more information on the signs for tourist.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun 18
There is more information on another sign but if I put too many on a collage then all the photos become quite small and not so easy to see. I got the information about lumpy jaw from the other sign. Some people don't bother to read all the info on signs.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
15 Jun 18
not feeding them is good advice
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
17 Jun 18
@JudyEv they have banned feeding the pigeons around London's Trafalgar Square too now
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jun 18
@arthurchappell I just remember them as being a real pest and of course they make a terrible mess of all the statues.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
15 Jun 18
I see...
Have you thought about hanging a sign around Vince's neck with a placard that says it is okay to feed him? You might hang one around your neck, too, and see if you can save money on groceries every month... 
Lumpy jaw is just part of the problems caused by people feeding the wild animals, Judy.
The foods people feed most often to wild animals aren't nutritionally complete which causes the animals to become sick and listless. Listless animals are less inclined to search for and find the natural foods that could help them get well again.
When wild animals learn that they can get "free" food from people it causes a natural migration into the areas where the feeding occurs. This concentrated wildlife helps spread diseases among them and in some cases, helps spread those diseases to humans, too.
Lumpy jaw is just part of the problems caused by people feeding the wild animals, Judy.
The foods people feed most often to wild animals aren't nutritionally complete which causes the animals to become sick and listless. Listless animals are less inclined to search for and find the natural foods that could help them get well again.
When wild animals learn that they can get "free" food from people it causes a natural migration into the areas where the feeding occurs. This concentrated wildlife helps spread diseases among them and in some cases, helps spread those diseases to humans, too.1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
17 Jun 18
@JudyEv Yeah, I was just thinking you and Vince might not like people feeding you by hand, either. 
I've seen people use the restroom without washing their hands and then go straight to feeding animals.
I've seen people use the restroom without washing their hands and then go straight to feeding animals.1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23979)
• United Kingdom
19 Jun 18
When My wife cooks sometimes I end up with 'lumpy jaw' and some of her concoctions I would definitely call unnatural! 
( I can quite safely say that and get away with it as she does not do mylot!
( I can quite safely say that and get away with it as she does not do mylot!1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jun 18
@garymarsh6 Oh that's good! I'm very relieved. However now I won't be able to blackmail you.
1 person likes this
