Where Can We Feed The Animals Frieely In Texas Parks

Did Y'all Know?

Await, Simply Don't Feed Wild fauna in Texas State Parks

AUSTIN, Texas – A ban on wildlife feeding in state parks may seem counterintuitive for many urban-based park visitors, about of whom grow upwards feeding and caring for pets and oft encounter wild animals in a similar light. But the fact is feeding free ranging wildlife is bad for people and animals.

That'south why the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted in 2004 to prohibit visitors from feeding wildlife in Texas State Parks.

Walt Dabney, Texas State Parks director, told commissioners the feeding ban addresses a very existent human health and safety issue. He pointed out that feeding wild animals in land park campgrounds perpetuates habitat deposition, can lead to an unnatural and unhealthy increment in animal population levels, and increases the possibility of the transmission of diseases and of humans or pets being injured or killed past wildlife.

"When wild animals begin associating humans with food, they don't go less wild; they just lose their inherent fear of humans," Dabney said. "Thus, with animals and humans in close proximity, increased chances of wildlife biting, charging, goring, or kicking visitors becomes a real possibility. Having wild animals living in an unnatural surroundings where they are being fed is non what nosotros want."

Dabney cited two close calls that could have been "horrible" for park visitors because of an ambitious javelina at Asphyxiate Canyon State Park and an aggressive feral hog at Fairfield Lake State Park. Park personnel, he said, were forced to shoot the hog and the javelina, because the animals were endangering campers.

State park constabulary officers and game wardens have the authority to enforce the feeding ban rule and could charge flagrant offenders with a Class C misdemeanor, punishable past as much equally a $500 fine. However, Dabney said the emphasis is on educating park visitors almost the dominion alter through posted signs, issuing warnings to start-fourth dimension violators and other measures.

The new dominion, which applies to wildlife feeding in land parks only, is not meant to prohibit "reasonable things, like having bird feeders which are designed to continue out other animals" placed in designated wildlife viewing areas, the state parks director said. He said park superintendents may allow, on a case-past-case basis, bird feeders that do not allow other wild fauna to admission the feed. Parks may also allow feeding outside of campgrounds or other developed areas to bring wild fauna to ascertainment or photography blinds in controlled situations that don't cause animals to associate humans with feeding.

"Nosotros're not trying to discourage i of the most enjoyable activities in our state parks – the viewing of the wildlife – but it's non acceptable to accept these animals bedded downward in our campsites or rummaging through coolers," Dabney said.

With the canonical amendment, the "wildlife" department of the Rules of Comport in State Parks at present states that it is an criminal offense to: "feed or offer nutrient to any wildlife or exotic wildlife, or to leave food unsecured in a way that makes the nutrient available to wildlife or exotic wildlife, unless specifically authorized by the department. The feeding of birds may be permitted on a park-by-park basis as prescribed by the department."

Source: https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsletters/state_parks_getaways/2008holiday/dyk.phtml

Posted by: zamudiofolisn1984.blogspot.com

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