Town Of Dedham: Dedham ACO Urges Residents Not To Feed Wildlife

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

03/03/2022 1:00 PM

Animal Control Officer Deni Goldman is asking all residents to be mindful of wildlife in the area and encourages people to resist feeding them, especially with food most common to humans.

“We are fortunate to live in a community where we see a variety of wildlife,” said ACO Goldman. “It is our responsibility to not create a harmful situation for ourselves and for them, and that includes supplemental feeding.”

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, commonly referred to as MassWildlife, strongly advises the public to refrain from supplemental feeding, providing additional food sources to the wildlife, as it can lead to aggressive interactions amongst animals and when around humans. The additional, not naturally occurring, source of food can also alter the animal’s normal behaviors.

“The weather is changing, and we are approaching spring when we expect to see things bloom and more animals around us,” said ACO Goldman. “We as a community can work together to reduce the potential for conflicts and negative interactions with wildlife by not positioning ourselves as a consistent source for food.”

Listed below are suggestions from MassWildlife that can help to protect ourselves and wildlife and contribute to a calm coexistence:

• Use native plants, bird houses, and fresh water instead of bird feeders to attract birds.
• If you have bird feeders, keep an eye out for other wildlife eating the fallen seeds and bring in immediately to not attract larger animals.
• Choose plants based on your soil to create safe habitat, natural food, and cover.
• Do not leave food outside for wildlife to consume. This will encourage them to return and attract more animals.
• Do not throw food scraps on the ground, in your garden, or in your yard. This can create health issues, cause aggression, and attract large crowds of animals that may spread disease to other wildlife.
• If you use a compost bin, make sure it can securely close.
• Keep pet food and water indoors.
• Do not approach wildlife, even to get a photo. Respect their space and they will respect yours.

While it may be tempting to feed the animals, they should never rely on us as a primary source for food. By allowing the wildlife to be wild and to live as they naturally do, coexistence will not just continue, it will likely thrive.

This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.