Irresponsible Neighbor

[kla37]

Autopsy: Bear killed woman near Ouray
By Joey Bunch
The Denver Post


Read more: Autopsy: Bear killed woman near Ouray - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13034073?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com#ixzz0zzhsztNt

Baskfield called feeding wildlife "a selfish act."

"I think it's all about them being able to view that animal," he said. "But they're not helping the animals. They're hurting them. There's a saying: 'A fed bear is a dead bear,' because that's what happens."


Read more: Autopsy: Bear killed woman near Ouray - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13034073?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com#ixzz0zzhl4L4f


It's just nuts to feed wild animals. Allowing some natural habitat on your property-OK. Very nice and thoughtful. Feeding them-Stupid. A lot of those animals, esp the omnivorous and carnivorous ones end up dead when they move on to somewhere else and expect other people to feed them as well, which always creates a problem.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

6 months ago a black bear visited our garage when my dad forgot to close it for the night. It managed to trash half of the stuff in there, and carried the dog treat box into our front yard where it ate all 20 pounds of treats. It left some impressive teeth marks in that box. It wasn't a small bear. Then not too long ago, 5 miles from where I live, the bear was shot and killed when it entered the house of some lunatic who tried to HAND FEED the poor thing! Neighbors witnessed it entering the house, and called animal control. It's been around for 2 years, causing mischief thanks to loss of habitat. For the most part, humans are a death sentance for wild animals.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

Fed wildlife is dead wildlife. 50+ years of ecological research has proved that one. Thus the institution of laws that your neighbor is breaking. The bears she feeds are likely to end up dead for their learned behaviors because those learned behaviors are likely to injure people.

I once knew a woman personally, like your neighbor, who had moved to Idaho from LA. She decided it was wise to feed the adorable moose. She was gored navel to neck, I'm not exaggerating, by her precious bull moose. Her injuries were so bad, after multiple surgeries, she barely survived. Reporting to Fish and Wildlife, though uncomfortable, was a service to your neighbor, the community, and the local wildlife. I know that among certain communities and this is regular practice but that doesn't make it any less harmful in the big picture. This is a lesson folks really need to learn. I hope that people who want to continue feeding wildlife, will do so only after a thorough investigation of the abundant research available on the topic.

I love wildlife on my property or anywhere else I happen to see them. I've had the good fortune to see animals in the wild that most people go to the zoo to see. Bears on the property are a real nuisance though, and sows and cubs are downright deadly. Now that particular sow has taught those cubs where to find food; near houses. This is a real danger to everyone in the area.

Consider creating habitat for wild animals on your property if you really want to see them up close and not leave home. Plant forage and cover for them. Cheaper in the long run than buying feed, and increases the value of your property. That way they'll come near without learning that people are a good source of junk food. There is a wealth of information on this topic for folks who are interested.

Feral cats and possums are vermin, I'd trap and exterminate like other vermin on your property.

Forgive me, I didn't read the whole thread so I'm surely repeating what others have said probably better than me.

 

[wpalmisano]

Quote:
I'm pretty sure it's illegal in Texas too, just because everyone DOES it, doesn't make it right. People are lemmings.

Just another reason why Alaskans really DO NOT like Texans that come up here.

Oh no you didn't! ROFL......

 

[wpalmisano]

Quote:
They will break into cars, homes, where ever you leave food. They love bird seed, garbage, dog food, whatever. Cubs are being taught by the sows that food can be found near us. A pane of glass won't stop a bear. That being said, if you are careful about your land, and take care of it, it should be OK. In both instances here last year where coyotes attacked adults, someone had been feeding them. Unfortunately, once a bear loses fear of humans and learns to associate us with food, it will be killed, because it can never be unlearned. As someone said, do a search on Youtube.



Edited to ADD cONNECTICUT bEAR

 

[QuinnP]

with RedHen. Pushing one's 'views' on someone else is rude

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
QuinnP, did you read the whole thread? The neighbor is illegally feeding the wildlife, including bear. I really don't think the op is trying to push her "views" per se, just wanting her neighbor to give some thought to the danger her choices are subjecting the rest of the area to. If you did read the whole thing and that is the way you feel you are of course entitled to your opinion, as is everyone else.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Please keep the personal disputes off the public board. Thanks.

Personally I have no issues with anyone 'feeding' wildlife if they do it by supporting or recreating natural habitat so that the critter can feed it's self. Everything else is proven to be a bad idea, do the research, there are so many studies to show this, and they are all over the net. Real scientific long term studies, not Joe's life story of the deer that visited his farm, that he never tracked from year to year to see how they really were doing.

So if you want song birds in your yard plant the right shrubs. If you want deer out in the back pasture there is a mix of seeds for them to enhance your pasture. Support wild honey bees and many birds by not taking down every dead tree just because it's dead. Do it naturally, do not pollute their diet with high corn and molasses feeds, unlimited seeds or nuts (that they mostly waste by burying) and other stuff that dooms them to poor health.

ETA if a bear in this area fails to leave at the sight of a human all of us in the valley have agreed that a shot should be fired safely into a backstop such as a stump or log near the bear. Sadly we have taken this on due to the recreational areas near by, and the increasing numbers of campers/hunters in the area. They spoil the bears, then leave them in our back yards. What these campers have tried to take away, a bears natural healthy aversion to humans we try to reinforce. None of us feed bears, or leave anything out for bears to get into, even processing days. Messing with bears is NOT something you want to do. This is black bear country, I see them every day almost for the season, and I ride to sort cattle and check herds. I make sure they keep their distance. We have had few problem bears, one this year chasing cattle was shot, but no human encounters - touch wood.

 

[vatterpa]

Quote:
I totally agree. Sunflowers are a beautiful way of feeding the wild life if they are left to stand through the winter (although mine get cut for my chickens). If you want larger wild life, plant berry bushes or apple trees. Even if you don't eat them yourself, the wildlife(and your chickens) will adore them. Personally, I don't plant a thing for them and they wil not stay out of my yard. One year, two deer stood outside my house picking the acorns from the leaves I raked up for 2 hours. I do live in the country. But I also don't feed birdseed for wild birds. You can even make it a family project to plant as many plants that the birds like that you can.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
I still would have minded my own business..
If you dont want deer in your woods..then move to the city...

If my neighbor called on me because i wanted to feed the wildlife in my yard...
Well..... 2 can play dirty...
Again.. this is just MY opinion on the matter...
i'm not going to argue with you... its your choice and its already done anyways...
Good luck!

This might be one of the times we disagree Redhen (and you and I know about one another

) I have no troubles living in the woods WITH the critters that are here, however feeding them is crossing the line when is comes to safety, both of us, our critters AND the wildlife. Very often, the things that people feed wild animals is BAD for them. For an example, oftentimes people will put out hay for the moose during the winter, not realizing that it can and WILL kill them. Moose have a systems that 'changes' with the season to allow them to digest grasses and yummy things in the summer and then tree twigs and bark in the winter. Feeding them hay 'binds' them as they can't digest it and kills them.

This is just one example of why not to feed the wildlife. Another is that they then become accustomed to humans, lose their fear, end up hurting a human, and then the wild critters get killed because of it. Live WITH nature as it is, don't try and make it something it's not as this person does (a pet).

I think that we pretty much agree!
I would not be feeding bears either! Thats pretty stupid AND irresponsible...
But what i was trying to say is...
The OP ASKED us if we would have called wildlife control on her friend/neighbor...
And MY opinion is that i would not have called... i would have minded my own business...
And i stand by that because... I'm not one meddle in others business or what they choose to do in their own yard...
What my neighbors do is none of my business..
Thats what i was saying.... NOT that feeding bears is a good idea!..

Either way..it dosent matter to me... the OP already called and its a done deal...
Its too bad a friendship was lost over it.... i think that it could have been handled better/differently... thats just my opinion..
But again... its not my problem..