The city of San Marino is asking residents to avoid feeding wildlife in the San Gabriel Valley.
Though the act may seem friendly, it can lead to unintended consequences — a message the city is helping to spread from the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.
In a recent social media post, the city shared the distinction between the ways in which people feed wildlife such as coyotes intentionally and unintentionally.
INTENTIONALLY
• Hand-feeding wildlife at parks or near one’s home.
• Leaving food bowls or scraps near public spaces or one’s home.
UNINTENTIONALLY
Leaving food sources easily accessible to wildlife on accident through:
• Exposed waste/compost bins without lids.
• BBQ scraps left on outdoor grills.
• Pet food.
• Fallen seed from bird feeders.
• Fallen fruit from trees.
Feeding wildlife is harmful to wildlife and humans. Some impacts include:
• Association of humans with food, leading to aggressive behavior.
• Loss of caution and fear of humans.
• Loss of foraging and hunting skills.
• Spread of diseases to pets and people.
Residents who need help removing food sources from their property can download the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments’ yard audit at sgvcog.org/coyotes.
For more information or to report coyote encounters call (626) 278-8039, email coyotesgvcog.org or visit tinyurl.com/sgvcoyotes.
First published in the Jan. 25 issue of the San Marino Tribune
