Keeping
Wild Animals Wild
Do not feed wildlife.
Wild animals that are fed by humans may become nuisance animals! Once fed,
they will often begin to expect food and can become aggressive or invasive
in their attempts to get it. Additionally, we often inadvertently feed them
the wrong thing. For instance, ducks naturally eat aquatic vegetation,
insects, and mollusks and the feed we feed them isn’t good for them and can
cause serious health problems for them. The best idea is not to feed wild
animals at all. Finally, do not allow wildlife access to food or trash (for
more information, click here). Especially at night, close pet doors,
keep pet food in side, and keep trash locked up. This will help both the
wild animals and your pets stay safe!
Wild animals never make good pets!
Please
do not attempt to raise or keep wild animals. When young, wild animals will
develop bone problems if fed not fed the correct (specialized) diet and can
develop pneumonia or even die if fed incorrectly. Young birds need to be
raised with their own kind to be successfully released and adult birds will
damage their feathers in wire cages and will often die of stress. Mammals
and reptiles will often turn on the people who raise them,
can bite and scratch, and can carry diseases and
parasites.
Finally, in California it is illegal to keep wild animals at pets without
proper permits. Wild animals never make good pets!
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