Healthy Hints

Do Not Feed The Wildlife

Animals like bobcats, coyotes and javelina are very active in the Grayhawk community. Grayhawk maintenance staff regularly observe signs of residents or vendors leaving food for wildlife. However, feeding wildlife is a bad practice that can lead to potentially dangerous encounters between animals and humans.

While feeding wildlife might seem like the nice thing to do, it is actually conditioning animals to frequent specific locations and increasing the chance of human-wildlife conflict. In 2006, the Arizona Legislature passed a law (13-2927. Unlawful feeding of wildlife; classification) making it illegal to feed wildlife in Maricopa and Pima counties.

While some are purposely feeding wildlife, that is not always the case. You may not be intentionally feeding wildlife, but if you are leaving trash or pet food outside you could still be soliciting the visits. To reduce the chance of an unwanted encounter, do not feed the wildlife, keep trash secured and pet food indoors. Remember that for their safety, you should always watch small pets when they are outside.

For additional information on the dangers of feeding wildlife and tips on living with urban wildlife, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department Web site at https://www.azgfd.com.