The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has advised people not to feed native wildlife, drawing attention to the fact that giving them food may not be good for them.
Launching a new video with tips on how members of the community can help keep wildlife wild, the Department said that at this time of the year when there has been little rain and plenty of hot weather, people may start to worry about the availability of natural food and water resources for wild animals and birdlife.
Wildlife Management Principal Ecologist at DEW, Karl Hillyard said it might be tempting to want to feed wild animals and birds in our backyards or public parks and reserves.
“What we see as an act of kindness can be harmful as native animals have specialised diets,” Dr Hillyard said.
“Food given by people does not always provide appropriate nutrition and can cause serious health problems or even death. Also, birds and animals fed by people may lose their ability to forage for natural food sources,” he said.
“Providing a regular artificial food source can lead to too many native animals living and breeding in an area, putting extra pressure on natural food sources.”
“An unnatural concentration of animals can also provide a focal point for outbreaks of transmissible diseases that can cause suffering or be fatal to animals”.
Wildlife Programs Officer at DEW, Steph Cole urged people not to upset the balance of nature by feeding native birds and animals.
“Rather than offering artificial food sources to our native birds, grow local native plants on your property to provide native birds and animals with a safe habitat and healthy food,” Ms Cole said.
“Consider getting involved with a local Friends of Parks group or a similar environmental group to help conserve wildlife habitat. Remember to appreciate wild animals from a safe distance when visiting your local, national parks,” she said.
“With the fantastic diversity of wildlife we are lucky enough to experience here in South Australia, it is important that we all play our part in keeping our wildlife wild.”
More information about feeding SA’s wildlife can be accessed at this PS News link.
