Detriments to Feeding Wildlife

Florida is home to many species of wildlife, including mammals, birds and reptiles that thrive in sub-tropical climates and are unique to the Florida landscape. Urban development and population growth have impacted many of the state’s natural habitats, often bringing wildlife closer to residential areas and businesses. Feeding wildlife may initially create viewing opportunities and seem helpful to animals, but unintended negative consequences can arise.  

Possible negative impacts of feeding wildlife include:

• Poor nutrition. Nutritional deficits can occur when human foods replace natural forage. When human food is offered and consumed by wildlife, they often do not eat their natural foods required for proper digestion and health. Improper diet can lead to abnormal development in young animals, resulting in deformity, brittle bones, poor coat quality and stunted growth.
• Overpopulation/Overcrowding. Providing a food source or feeding station often encourages large numbers of wildlife to congregate in small areas, exposing them to stress and competition, and leading to the spread of disease. Nonnative species may also be drawn to the area, displacing native wildlife.
• Delayed migration. When fed by people, migratory animals (such as waterfowl) may experience delayed natural migration or altered migratory patterns. This can impact ecosystems that rely on migratory animals for seed disbursement and pollination.
• Public nuisance. Congregations of wildlife can become a nuisance to people. Wildlife can consume unattended pet food, bird seed, invade trash cans, scatter garbage, eat produce grown on trees for human consumption and damage landscaping. They may also leave droppings on driveways, walkways and in pools which can pollute soil and water sources with fecal matter. Some wildlife can climb, tear and penetrate screens that cover pools or porches and even enter structures which can cause property damage.
• Attracting wildlife predators. Species such as bobcats, coyotes, foxes and raptors will frequent areas that have additional food and concentrated prey species. Once established, these predators often fail to discern wild natural prey from domesticated pets. This can lead to increased conflicts between wildlife and pets.
• Unnatural behaviors. Whether intentional or unintentional, fed wildlife can become dependent on humans for food, causing them to lose their natural fear of people and to linger in urban areas. This can lead to conflicts including property damage, vehicle collisions, or threats to public safety. 
• Aggression towards people. In the United States, most attacks on humans by wild animals have been documented cases stemming from humans feeding wildlife.

Regulatory Status

Florida Administrative Code 68A-4.001 prohibits the feeding of pelicans, sandhill cranes and non-human primates, and prohibits placing food in a manner that attracts black bears, coyotes, foxes and raccoons. Florida Administrative Code 68A-25.001 prohibits feeding crocodilians (alligators and crocodiles), and Florida Administrative Code 68A-16.002 prohibits feeding bald eagles.  

Report illegal feeding! If you know or suspect someone is illegally feeding wildlife call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-3922, text Tip411 (847411) with keyword ‘FWC’ and information about the violation, or submit a tip online.