Don't Feed Wildlife
Feeding Wildlife is Illegal
Intentional or inadvertent feeding is the major cause of many wildlife problems. Under Colorado law, intentionally feeding deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions and bears is illegal. This law protects both animals and people as feeding wildlife is more harmful than helpful.
$100
fine for violators
Feeding Wildlife
Leave Necessary Feeding to Colorado Parks and Wildlife
It’s Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s role to protect Colorado's animals and supplement feeding only when necessary. The agency launches controlled, emergency, and safe feeding of these animals only during extremely harsh winters or other rare hazardous conditions. Any other time these animals are better off left to obtain their food naturally.
Feeding Wildlife Puts Everyone at Risk
-
It Invites Unwanted and Potentially Dangerous Guests
For example, feeding wildlife like deer in your yard can also attract mountain lions, or uncleaned birdfeeders may attract bears.
-
Human-wildlife Conflicts Bring Poor Outcomes
Bears have an excellent sense of smell and a great memory. Feeding a bear, or allowing one to eat your trash, could be a death sentence for a bear. Bears that seek food from human sources may become dangerous, and a dangerous bear will be killed to protect human health and safety. Over time, predators such as bears, mountain lions, and other animals become less wary and more emboldened around people. They’re more likely to attack pets and people, and when that happens, wildlife will be destroyed. Be part of the solution, keep food away from wildlife!
-
It Disrupts Normal Wildlife Behavior
The normal feeding behavior of big game animals allows them to spread out as they graze or browse. Artificial feeding disrupts that behavior and prompts deer to crowd together in small areas where they are more likely to be chased by dogs, be hit by cars, and spread disease.
-
It Causes Disease in Wildlife
Feeding wildlife can increase stress and spread disease. Salt and mineral blocks, corn, and grain all facilitate disease transmission. These diseases take time to develop in the animal, so the individuals feeding wildlife don’t see the direct negative consequence of their actions. Animals frequently develop diseases in areas where wildlife is fed and an individual animal can go on to affect many other animals.
-
Diseases can be Spread to Pets and Humans
Diseases can spread between wildlife and livestock, and to domestic animals and people. Primary concerns are focused on devastating diseases, such as brucellosis and tuberculosis, which can be transmitted to humans, or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza which has led to major losses of wild birds and for our agricultural industry.
Feeding Can Cause Fatal Disease
There are two diseases fatal to animals that can easily spread when animals are congregating over feed: acidosis and chronic wasting disease.
Acidosis
Acidosis is a severe and often fatal disease in deer, elk, bighorn sheep, moose, and pronghorn that consume an excess of high-carbohydrate feed. Acidosis also can affect any ruminant species including cattle, sheep, and goats.
CWD
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an always fatal neurological disease found in deer, elk, and moose. The disease agents, prions (pree-ons) are present in saliva, feces and carcass parts of infected animals. CWD spreads through direct or indirect contact between animals. CWD is not caused by a virus or bacteria, and cannot be treated or prevented with vaccination. This makes it a real threat to the health and long-term sustainability of herds if not controlled through active management.
Find out moreFeeding Can Harm Stomachs of Wildlife
Deer and elk eat wild grasses, forbs, and shrubs. They have a specialized stomach for digesting this type of food. When corn, birdseed, apples, grain, or other high carbohydrate foods are consumed, the stomach balance is upset and too much acid is produced. The acid causes burns to the stomach lining, letting bacteria into the blood and causing diarrhea, water loss (dehydration), brain damage, and hoof problems (laminitis). Many animals die quickly from the acid’s immediate effects, while others may live longer but die from liver or brain damage.
- Diarrhea
- Animals acting sick or weak
- Long or twisted hooves
- Liver abscesses
The best way to prevent acidosis in wildlife is to prevent access to high carbohydrate foods. Many people want to help wildlife by providing food, but unfortunately this practice causes many wildlife deaths each year in Colorado.
Acidosis is not a transmissible disease. However, if abscesses are seen in the liver it can be a sign that bacteria have entered the blood and the meat should not be consumed.
Living with Wildlife
Feeding Birds
Bird feeders are very likely to become bear feeders, and teach bears that it’s safe to come close to people and homes looking for food. Bird feeders are only appropriate when placed outside in the winter months when bears are hibernating. In the spring and summer months, you can attract birds by using nesting boxes, creating a bird garden, hanging flower pots or having a bird bath.
Best Practices for Safe Bird Feeding
- Use multiple feeders to avoid crowding.
- Do not feed on the ground, and avoid platform feeders that allow birds to defecate on feeding surfaces.
- Remove birdfeeders in the spring and through the fall to avoid them becoming "bear-feeders."
- Regularly eliminate feed from the ground.
- Clean feeders every two weeks (in the dishwasher, or using soapy water followed by a rinse with 10% bleach solution).
- Always keep feed dry.
- Wear gloves and wash hands after handling feeders.
- Never allow pets to play with or consume sick or dead birds.
Disease
Diseases at Bird Feeders
Many diseases are spread at bird feeders. These diseases can be controlled and prevented by proper use and regular cleaning of feeders.
The Salmonella bacteria are spread at feeders contaminated by feces, or by eating feed off the ground. Salmonella bacteria can also cause illness in humans and domestic animals.
The trichomonad parasite is spread when infected birds drop feed that cannot be swallowed and other birds eat the contaminated feed. Sick birds cannot swallow feed because of an infection in the throat. Mourning doves are most commonly affected.
Sick birds have swollen, red, watery, and/or crusty eyes. Birds may recover from this disease, although severe cases can be fatal. Finches are most commonly affected. The Mycoplasma gallisepticum bacteria is spread by contact between birds and is usually spread in crowded groups.
The avian poxvirus is spread by contact in crowded groups, contact with contaminated surfaces such as bird feeders, by ingesting contaminated food or water, or by insects. Sick birds have wart-like growths on the face, feet, and other unfeathered skin. Growths may interfere with the bird’s ability to see, breathe, eat, or drink.