MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay Municipality encourages residents not to feed wildlife such as doves, gulls, deer, dassies and feral cats.

Conflict between wildlife and people can be reduced by not feeding wildlife.

People who would like to assist animals should instead contact and donate to the legally registered non-governmental organisations involved in caring for wildlife.

Mossel Bay has several neighbourhood conservancies and residents are encouraged to join them and become actively involved with these organisations, which are intent on safeguarding the wildlife in their areas.

Feeding wildlife can lead to serious problems, considering that human food is not healthy for wild animals, and they do not need food from humans to survive.

Wild animals have specialised diets, and they can become malnourished or die if fed the wrong foods. Animals cannot distinguish food from wrappers or plastic and can get seriously sick from eating packaging.

When young wild animals begin depending on a human-provided food source, they may not fully develop essential foraging skills. Animals who are raised relying on humans for food may struggle to survive in the absence of that artificial food source.

Feeding may also lead to public health concerns. Too many animals in one place increase the chance of disease transmission to people and among other wildlife.

Animals accustomed to people often lose their fear of people and can become aggressive. Those that become too aggressive may have to be euthanised to protect people and property.

Animals fed along roads or walkways tend to stay near their food source, increasing the chance of vehicle-animal accidents and/or problems for other people using the walkways.

Keep animals and birds wild by adhering to these rules:

• Do not feed or leave food out for them.
• Don't allow bird food to accumulate on the ground.
• Keep pet food and water containers indoors, especially at night.
• Harvest or dispose of fruit when it is ripe.
• Enjoy viewing wildlife at a distance. Respect their space and remember they are wild animals that should stay wild.

Conflict between wildlife, such as dassies, and people can be reduced by not feeding animals.

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