I have a neighbor, whom I really like a lot, we use to do things together, she would come over and help me feed the animals, then we would talk for a few minutes in the barn. In this time I knew she fed the wildlife, I mean ALL the wildlife. The birds, raccoons, possums, deer, squirrels, etc. and I kept cautioning her that this is not a wise idea nor do I personally want them around our farm. I even went so far as to explain to her WHY a few of them are not welcome but yet, she would either say it is her business and her home, which it is.
This spring she was visited by a sow bear and two babies, they went after the bird feeders and did some minor damage to the feeders and some hooks. Couple weeks after her the big male bear showed up and did quite a bit of damage to her place, coming back for several nights and looking for food. They stayed around so I urged her to call the wildlife biologist and fish and game, they told her pick up all food and do not feed anything for 6 to 8 weeks, she never told them she feeds everything and what she puts out, only about feeding birds.
Well, she is now back to putting out cracked corn for the deer, not sure about the sweet feed she was giving them too, bad food stuff that rots for the vultures, dog food for the raccoons and possums, and when I again told her that I don't want the bears back nor the deer, as our property wraps around hers, she got angry and rude. So, I called wild life and fish and game, they came out yesterday and talked to her, explained to her that as of Sept. 1 it is illegal to feed any and all deer in VA as well as any other wild animal, and the damage it could potentially cause to the eco-system and vegetation. She did not care that some of these wild animals can pass on potentially fatal diseases to my horses and some could even try to get into our hen yard and destroy my flock. Her view is she moved out to the country to enjoy the wildlife and will do whatever the hell she wants, if not she will move back to D.C....my reply was well that may be best.
Would you have done the same? How would yo have handled this situation? Did I mention she also takes in stray cats and is now up to 7?! Three of those are her own personal cats. She refuses to find homes for them as she doesn't want them put to sleep and no one will take care of them like she does. We already have problems with foxes, have had the bear behind our house by our fence, etc....
This spring she was visited by a sow bear and two babies, they went after the bird feeders and did some minor damage to the feeders and some hooks. Couple weeks after her the big male bear showed up and did quite a bit of damage to her place, coming back for several nights and looking for food. They stayed around so I urged her to call the wildlife biologist and fish and game, they told her pick up all food and do not feed anything for 6 to 8 weeks, she never told them she feeds everything and what she puts out, only about feeding birds.
Well, she is now back to putting out cracked corn for the deer, not sure about the sweet feed she was giving them too, bad food stuff that rots for the vultures, dog food for the raccoons and possums, and when I again told her that I don't want the bears back nor the deer, as our property wraps around hers, she got angry and rude. So, I called wild life and fish and game, they came out yesterday and talked to her, explained to her that as of Sept. 1 it is illegal to feed any and all deer in VA as well as any other wild animal, and the damage it could potentially cause to the eco-system and vegetation. She did not care that some of these wild animals can pass on potentially fatal diseases to my horses and some could even try to get into our hen yard and destroy my flock. Her view is she moved out to the country to enjoy the wildlife and will do whatever the hell she wants, if not she will move back to D.C....my reply was well that may be best.
Would you have done the same? How would yo have handled this situation? Did I mention she also takes in stray cats and is now up to 7?! Three of those are her own personal cats. She refuses to find homes for them as she doesn't want them put to sleep and no one will take care of them like she does. We already have problems with foxes, have had the bear behind our house by our fence, etc....
