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animal liberation
March 2009 
Feeding sweet squirrels . . .
Posted on Oct 5th, 2006
by 
Jen
Jen
5 pm news: they're planning on rounding up “aggressive squirrels” in Mountainview, CA (northern, CA) because they are approaching and “scratching” children when trying to take their food.
And I fed some squirrels in golden gate park just a couple of days ago.
I feel horrible.
I was fascinated by how confident they were - and comfortable coming up to me, and so I gave them a piece of a nut bar, and now it looks like I helped encourage behavior that ultimately harms them.
It was so neat interacting. I felt like I was giving them something they wanted & needed and that they were so comfortable asking for. But I can't BELIEVE the danger I put them in. I know all of the “do not feed the animals” stuff, but I was thinking - this is such a wilderness-friendly area, why not just ONCE.
5 pm news. That's why. That and wimpy kids. ;-)
Actually, the truth is that my giving them food is just as much interference as putting them in a zoo or something. Those squirrels weren't ill or injured. They were not in danger and did not need my help. So out of “kindness”, I actually put them in danger.
Enter the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
I'm thankful for the whole combo of the sweet squirrels and the nutty humans to remind me afresh to “step off” and respect the space of others, even when strongly tempted to interact with free nonhuman animals (and some of the human ones, too!!)
A lesson for me: here.
A pod for you: here.
And I fed some squirrels in golden gate park just a couple of days ago.
I feel horrible.
I was fascinated by how confident they were - and comfortable coming up to me, and so I gave them a piece of a nut bar, and now it looks like I helped encourage behavior that ultimately harms them.
It was so neat interacting. I felt like I was giving them something they wanted & needed and that they were so comfortable asking for. But I can't BELIEVE the danger I put them in. I know all of the “do not feed the animals” stuff, but I was thinking - this is such a wilderness-friendly area, why not just ONCE.
5 pm news. That's why. That and wimpy kids. ;-)
Actually, the truth is that my giving them food is just as much interference as putting them in a zoo or something. Those squirrels weren't ill or injured. They were not in danger and did not need my help. So out of “kindness”, I actually put them in danger.
Enter the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
I'm thankful for the whole combo of the sweet squirrels and the nutty humans to remind me afresh to “step off” and respect the space of others, even when strongly tempted to interact with free nonhuman animals (and some of the human ones, too!!)
A lesson for me: here.
A pod for you: here.
Access: PublicTagged with: squirrel, animals, wildlife, wilderness, conservation, animal rights, animal liberation, looney kids and their parents
