Current Events > One of my biggest pet peeves is people feeding squirrels, raccoons, etc

(+) Yeah! (+)

Stop fucking feeding wildlife

They've existed for thousands of years

You're only training them to get food from people, and that can end up dangerous

Fuckin stop it
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They're urban animals adapted to a human environment, they don't go off into the wilderness at night

lighten up, it's not a bear

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Raccoons will kill pets too
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Boo hoo. I believe there are worse things to worry about.

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Colorahdo posted...

They're urban animals adapted to a human environment, they don't go off into the wilderness at night

lighten up, it's not a bear

I don't live in the city, I live in an area surrounded by forests and trees and parks.

This is exactly the kind of environment that squirrels and raccoons thrive in. They don't need human food. Do these people not know how bad human food is for animals
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I'm locked in an eternal battle with a big fat ass raccoon that comes looking for my dog's food every night. I'm trying to resist shooting it but it's getting old
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Agreed, dude. Over on Fire Island in NY, there's a shit ton of deer. They just hang out in people's backyards, go through the garbage, lay around on the boardwalk, etc... All the tourists over the summer feed them. They're tame to the point that you can walk up to them and interact with them.

These same people then turn around and go WHY ARE THE TICKS SO BAD THIS YEAR?!
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Timohtep posted...

I don't live in the city, I live in an area surrounded by forests and trees and parks.

This is exactly the kind of environment that squirrels and raccoons thrive in. They don't need human food. Do these people not know how bad human food is for animals

racoons and squirrels are omnivorous and can eat almost anything like a human can. The food is "bad" for them because it's sugary and fatty, just like it's bad for the human

If they live near humans, it's a fact that they rely on human sources (trash) and there are many more squirrels and raccoons in your area because humans settled there. If they were forced to compete for the meager "natural" sources, there'd be thousands of raccoons that starved to death

Humans are part of the environment, there are natural ecosystems in mega cities

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Yeah if you're throwing a burger at them sure but having a feeder for birds and other types of food for squirrels aren't bad.
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Superlinkbro posted...

Yeah if you're throwing a burger at them sure but having a feeder for birds and other types of food for squirrels aren't bad.

Well yeah, feeders and shit are fine. Those things are literally specifically for animals.

I'm talking about my gf being like "I'm not gonna finish this sandwich so I'm just gonna put it on the porch for the raccoons :)"

Like bitch fucking stop
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raccoons are awful, you do not want them coming around
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