The temptation to engage with wildlife by feeding them is real – especially for children – but the consequences for the animals, and the public, can be dire.
“Feeding wildlife can reduce their fear of humans which may result in aggression and the need for the animal to be removed or killed in order to protect public safety,” according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website. “In some cases, feeding wildlife is illegal in Florida. Species with rules related to feeding include bears, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, pelicans, alligators, crocodiles, sandhill cranes, and wild monkeys.”
Additionally, the Flagler County Code of Ordinances, Sec. 13-2(7) prohibits feeding wildlife on public land.
A Flagler Beach resident contacted the county on Tuesday (May 7) after seeing a social media post of children feeding an alligator at Wadsworth Park.
“The real issue is that people feel safe on the boardwalk over the pond, but the majority of the pond is open and accessible to people walking in Wadsworth Park,” said General Services Assistant Director Michael Lagasse. “People are naturally drawn to water features. We don’t want them to approach the pond and end up with an unwelcome, potentially dangerous interaction.”
Flagler County Parks and Recreation staff are presently installing additional alligator warning signs (Wednesday, May 8).
Lagasse investigated on Tuesday (May 7) and reported that the 5-foot gator swam towards him – likely responding from “food conditioning” and probably won’t leave the area on its own.
“Food conditioning is dangerous for animals because it can lead to serious consequences like getting sick, starving, or even having to be killed if they become too aggressive,” according to the National Park Service website. “Animals can lose their fear of people when they get used to eating our food.”
Seeing alligators at Wadsworth Park is not a one-off. The three visible reviews on Tripadvisor about the park talk about alligators.
The most recent one, posted four weeks ago, and titled “Ollie the alligator!” said in part, “Saw the alligator! So much fun. He hung out right in front of us going back and forth…”
For public safety reasons, the alligator that has been residing in the pond at Wadsworth Park will be removed by a licensed trapper.
“Flagler County residents know that wildlife and wildlands are an important part of our way of life here,” Lagasse said. “Most of us are aware to give wildlife space. When we don’t, animals can become dangerous to humans and a safety concern for the rest of the public.”
JimboXYZ says
As the City & County grows, a lot of alligators will need to be trapped & removed for relocation. Not sure why this is necessary, but then again I’ve seen my neighbor’s children. They aren’t the brightest or brilliant and a brief encounter with the parents & it’s quite understandable.
Joe D says
Having not “grown up” in the Florida area, I think I have a HEALTHY fear of Alligators. I don’t go near areas where they are likely to be, and hopefully (in Flagler Beach at least), they swim across the intercoastal in SMALL numbers. Having children or even adults feeding them, knowing their instinct is to grab prey (YOU or your PET or CHILDREN), and pull them into the water, to drown them…I question their COMMON SENSE!
There was a recent SAD incident in a Florida residential area, where an Alligator attacked an elderly woman’s Pet in their back yard (edging up to a neighborhood pond), with a KNOWN (NAMED) Alligator in the vicinity. The woman then was attacked trying to save her pet, and was dragged into the water and was killed. Then the family is SUING the Community Association, because they “should” have removed the oversized Alligator! Guess they needed SOMEONE to blame.
I tend to stay away from close encounters with WILDlife (note the emphasis on WILD)
Laurel says
Wild animals, including alligators, are not relocated. They are killed. Relocating may spread disease.
Laurel says
Humans are not my favorite animal; they are the most unnatural species. Recently, it was shown on TV a seriously dumb ass family pulling bear cubs out of a tree to take selfies with them. In Yellowstone National Park, rangers have an ongoing problem with people wanting to photograph their kids on the backs of buffaloes. Stupid is as stupid does.
In the article here, a person was bragging that an alligator was “hanging out” around them. Fool! The alligator was sizing them up!
Meanwhile, there are vacationers who catch fish and filet them outside, throwing the carcass to sea birds. Don’t do that! The exposed bones can puncture the bird’s innards.
Leave the wildlife alone.
Celia Pugliese says
I look forward to all current and newcomer residents in this county learn how to properly respect and live with our wildlife around us as we take their habitats for our homes. Wildlife urbanize, meaning they learn to survive among us, then what about we humans do the same?
JOE D says
To Laurel:
You are 100% correct…people need to observe, but leave WILDlife alone…
…Florida is not a petting zoo!
PS: for the Idiots pulling bear cubs out of trees for SELFIES (OMG!)
1)….USUALLY mother bear can’t be far away…they were lucky they weren’t MAULED
2) with WILDlife, once an animal (even a BABY animal) gets the scent of a human on them, other animals (even the mother) can reject or kill that baby animal…meaning that wonderful SELFIE shot you just took, means those cubs might have to be removed to an animal sanctuary to be raised, because your IGNORANCE and STUPIDITY just caused that animal a probable life long rejection from its BIRTH GROUP
Laurel says
Well, the more development out west, the less wildlife to worry about.
We know someone who has a tree camera out west and has loads of pictures of everything from snakes, to bobcats, to deer, to panthers, to fox, to eagles and so on. Development coming soon; less animals to enjoy.