Photo from: http://www.npr.org/2012/04/06/150079405/bears-stuffing-themselves-near-massachusetts-homes
Dear Residents of Northhamption Who Are Feeding Bears,
Stop. Please, just stop. What part of feeding bears seems like a wise decision to you? Is it the fact that they are the largest wild animals here in Massachusetts, or their unpredictable nature that makes this seem like a good idea? Is it the idea of bears tromping through your neighbor’s property, raiding trash cans and breaking into cars that you like? Please enlighten me, because there is just nothing about feeding bears – or any other wildlife – that I can comprehend.
Is it not enough that humans are feeding their children junk food? You need to see wildlife eating it too? Those pizza crusts and stale chips are filling these animals up, and replacing their diet of natural berries, meat, nuts and honey. Oh wait!! I just got it!! Bears are carnivores, and might potentially eat a cute little wild critter, and you want to prevent them from eating the cuter animals. Is that it? If we feed them enough junk food, and make our garbage cans, pet food dishes and compost piles easily accessible, then they won’t have to eat those cute little animals, right? Right.
Seriously, are you not aware of how potentially dangerous having bears in your backyard is? Do you really want to run into one of these animals in the dark when you’re not paying attention, and they’ve come around looking for a handout? Your neighbors don’t. And they LIKE wildlife! I think we’re all on board with the fact that humans have been encroaching on wildlife with our continuous development of open spaces. Mass Fish and Wildlife is already considering action to reduce bear numbers near heavily populated areas. Why do you need to exacerbate the problem by encouraging these animals into your neighborhood(s)??
I’m begging you – please, please stop feeding bears. You’re not doing them a favor and you’re endangering the people who live around you. If your only goal is to be able to watch bears, then send me an email and I’ll hook you up with some good wildlife viewing spots – in natural areas. Leave the ones around your home alone, read this post on how to reduce wildlife interactions in your neighborhood, and make use of the open spaces in and around your town for wildlife viewing. If you really can’t be bothered leaving your house, then watch bears on your computer screen – not in your backyard.
Sincerely,
Cynthia
Exasperated Naturalist
Wow. I’d be pissed if people in my neighborhood were feeding bears. How sad for those cubs that they are being taught to hunt for pizza scraps and not berries! I hope it doesn’t take someone getting attacked to change minds over there.
Yeah, I’d be pissed too. It’s depressing to think about all the junk those bears are eating, instead of their natural diet. I hope they get the law against feeding bears passed soon…
Oh no…how stupid is that….
I know. It’s a little hard to believe.
Now I’m feeling guilty about leaving my bird feeders full this late in the season. . I will get them down, after the seed is gone – promise!
Oh no – don’t feel guilty! You’d know if you were feeding bears – the feeders would be knocked down and emptied. The impression I got from this article was that people were intentionally feeding bears – it didn’t say with what, though.