New pamphlet warns against feeding wildlife in national park

JEFFREY P. MAYOR; jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com
Last updated: December 4th, 2008 12:24 AM (PST)

But it’s the words that park officials hope will capture the attention of visitors.

For the last month, park staff have been handing out a new pamphlet to help educate the public about the dangers of feeding wildlife. They’re available at visitor centers and from law enforcement rangers.

Most of the 18 species pictured have been fed or are habituated to humans, said Ellen Myers, the park’s acting wildlife biologist. They include the hoary marmot, coyote, pika, black bear and Townsend’s chipmunk.

“We’re really excited for people to see wildlife, but we need to do the right thing for wildlife. We want the public to do the right thing,” Myers said.

“Not feeding park animals keeps you safe and the wildlife wild,” the pamphlet reads.

Allowing animals to become habituated to human food endangers the creatures. Myers said park officials have noticed an increase in the number of animals hit by vehicles.

“That may have been in part because of the slow melt of the snow last year, but they sought more open areas. But once they related the roads to food, they were getting hit,” she said of the animals.

The pamphlet points out that three out of four Cascade foxes – a threatened species – that were struck by vehicles between 2005 and 2008 died.

There’s also a risk to humans who feed animals, such as the transfer of disease or injury, especially once animals associate people and food, Myers said.

“We are doing more harm than good when we feed them,” she said.

The publication was a joint effort of the park’s wildlife and interpretive teams, Myers said. With funding from the National Park Service’s Centennial Celebration budget, the park was able to hire a seasonal employee to put the pamphlet together.

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640

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Originally published: December 4th, 2008 12:24 AM (PST)