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November 22, 2003
Groups told to stop feeding wildlife
By: ANDREA MOSS, N. County Times (San Diego)
NORTH COUNTY ---- Groups that have been providing feed and other assistance to wildlife in fire-burned areas are being told by state officials that they must stop their efforts.
Project Wildlife is among the groups told to discontinue its assistance to the animals. In an e-mail sent to supporters earlier this week, a representative for the nonprofit organization said it was "forced to cease and desist" the feeding campaign, after the California Department of Fish & Game threatened to file a legal complaint with the district attorney's office, if its no-feed order was not heeded.
Ironically, the order came just as the group was awarded a $5,000 grant to help with its feeding efforts. The money was part of $467,000 distributed this week by the San Diego Fire Relief Fund, which is overseen by the San Diego Foundation.
Calls to several Project Wildlife officials were not returned Friday.
A spokesman for the state agency said it had taken no formal action yet to stop wildlife feeding in the burn areas. However, he confirmed those known to be involved in the activity were told to stop.
"They're not doing any of the wildlife a favor," spokesman Steve Martarano said. "They get by on their own. And people just need to understand wild animals need to be left alone."
The feeding efforts began when people became concerned about the animals' welfare after wildfires swept through San Diego County. The blazes, which were contained but still smoldering in spots on Friday evening, burned more than 380,000 acres between them.
The damage extended to thousands of acres of natural habitat in the region's back-country area. Several open space preserves, including Goodan Ranch between Poway and Santee and Hellhole Canyon in Valley Center, also burned.
The county has several wildlife assistance groups that rescue injured animals and nurse them back to health. Some of those groups launched wildlife feeding efforts after the fires, distributing hay, grain, salt licks, water and other sustenance in the burn areas.
County parks and recreation department policy calls for zero human intervention for wildlife after fires. Feeding wild animals is also against state law.
Many animal lovers said they found it difficult, though, to turn their backs on the situation after they saw wildlife searching for food in areas left blackened and bare by the flames.
"It's sort of frustrating," Friends of Goodan Ranch President Carol Crafts said Friday. "We've got all of these animals that lost their habitat. Why can't we feed them? .... We would like to see that (they) have enough to eat until their local habitats are somewhat restored."
Fish & Game officials understand the motivation involved, Martarano said. What people don't realize is that putting food out for the animals causes more problems than it solves.
"Animals are very adaptive at finding food," Martarano said. "And the problem with feeding and setting up a feeding station type of thing is, not only does it attract deer but everything from rats, skunks and a variety of other animals. And the problem with that is those will attract predators like mountain lions.
"Then you're putting the mountain lions at risk 'cause you're putting them near people and if they're perceived as a public safety threat, they'll be killed."
Human-provided food can also make wildlife sick and teach them to depend on people for sustenance, he said.
People caught feeding wildlife can be cited for a misdemeanor. Although punishment for the crime is up to local judges, state law allows for a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail sentence of up to a year.
San Diego Foundation spokeswoman Sara Wilensky said she did not know if the organization's board knew Project Wildlife had been told to stop its assistance efforts in the burn area when the group was approved for its grant. The money has not been turned over to Project Wildlife yet, she said.
The foundation has contingency policies that cover changing situations involving its grants, Wilensky said.
"If they are unable to fulfill the stated mission of the grant purpose, then one possibility would be that the grant funds would not be issued," she said.
A foundation committee that makes grant recommendations could also suggest Project Wildlife get and use the money for another purpose, Wilensky said.
Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.
Groups told to stop feeding wildlife
By: ANDREA MOSS, N. County Times (San Diego)
NORTH COUNTY ---- Groups that have been providing feed and other assistance to wildlife in fire-burned areas are being told by state officials that they must stop their efforts.
Project Wildlife is among the groups told to discontinue its assistance to the animals. In an e-mail sent to supporters earlier this week, a representative for the nonprofit organization said it was "forced to cease and desist" the feeding campaign, after the California Department of Fish & Game threatened to file a legal complaint with the district attorney's office, if its no-feed order was not heeded.
Ironically, the order came just as the group was awarded a $5,000 grant to help with its feeding efforts. The money was part of $467,000 distributed this week by the San Diego Fire Relief Fund, which is overseen by the San Diego Foundation.
Calls to several Project Wildlife officials were not returned Friday.
A spokesman for the state agency said it had taken no formal action yet to stop wildlife feeding in the burn areas. However, he confirmed those known to be involved in the activity were told to stop.
"They're not doing any of the wildlife a favor," spokesman Steve Martarano said. "They get by on their own. And people just need to understand wild animals need to be left alone."
The feeding efforts began when people became concerned about the animals' welfare after wildfires swept through San Diego County. The blazes, which were contained but still smoldering in spots on Friday evening, burned more than 380,000 acres between them.
The damage extended to thousands of acres of natural habitat in the region's back-country area. Several open space preserves, including Goodan Ranch between Poway and Santee and Hellhole Canyon in Valley Center, also burned.
The county has several wildlife assistance groups that rescue injured animals and nurse them back to health. Some of those groups launched wildlife feeding efforts after the fires, distributing hay, grain, salt licks, water and other sustenance in the burn areas.
County parks and recreation department policy calls for zero human intervention for wildlife after fires. Feeding wild animals is also against state law.
Many animal lovers said they found it difficult, though, to turn their backs on the situation after they saw wildlife searching for food in areas left blackened and bare by the flames.
"It's sort of frustrating," Friends of Goodan Ranch President Carol Crafts said Friday. "We've got all of these animals that lost their habitat. Why can't we feed them? .... We would like to see that (they) have enough to eat until their local habitats are somewhat restored."
Fish & Game officials understand the motivation involved, Martarano said. What people don't realize is that putting food out for the animals causes more problems than it solves.
"Animals are very adaptive at finding food," Martarano said. "And the problem with feeding and setting up a feeding station type of thing is, not only does it attract deer but everything from rats, skunks and a variety of other animals. And the problem with that is those will attract predators like mountain lions.
"Then you're putting the mountain lions at risk 'cause you're putting them near people and if they're perceived as a public safety threat, they'll be killed."
Human-provided food can also make wildlife sick and teach them to depend on people for sustenance, he said.
People caught feeding wildlife can be cited for a misdemeanor. Although punishment for the crime is up to local judges, state law allows for a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail sentence of up to a year.
San Diego Foundation spokeswoman Sara Wilensky said she did not know if the organization's board knew Project Wildlife had been told to stop its assistance efforts in the burn area when the group was approved for its grant. The money has not been turned over to Project Wildlife yet, she said.
The foundation has contingency policies that cover changing situations involving its grants, Wilensky said.
"If they are unable to fulfill the stated mission of the grant purpose, then one possibility would be that the grant funds would not be issued," she said.
A foundation committee that makes grant recommendations could also suggest Project Wildlife get and use the money for another purpose, Wilensky said.
Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.
