Chipmunks, ground squirrels and rock squirrels abound at many National Parks. They are WAY too friendly as people tend to feed them which leads to a bad behavior pattern. They really have plenty to eat in the natural world and Cheetos don’t grow anywhere.
Consider that these critters have teeth, can bite, and may carry rabies. Trust me, park employees don’t have the time or money to go around vaccinating all these little buggers. Plus in the Southwest the fleas these beggars can carry may have bubonic plague. Not something you want to take home from vacation. And the bottom line, it’s illegal to feed wildlife in parks. So Please use the zoom on your camera to photograph the wildlife and don’t lure them in with food.
These images where taken after I warned the visitor.
This message brought to you by a Park Ranger.
And this message about a recent diagnosis of plague . Thanks for the headsup Colleen.
LOL love the cartoon. I wish people would learn that feeding wild animals causes problems. They used to feed the baboons in Cape Town and the end result was that a lot of them had to be shot because they became dangerous! Diane
Diane, I was warned about the baboons in many areas of South Africa. It’s truly a shame these animals have to be put down because humans feed them and then complain about their aggressive behavior later.
I sure wish you could see the Grand Canyon and its spectacular skies in person.
Your post is especially on target since a southwest Colorado camper just tested positive for plague.
Thanks for the info on CO man, which I’ve added to the post. Some people think being in a park is as safe as Disney Land.
It drives me nuts when people feed the wild critters whether in a National Park or out. I’ve had friends feed alligators ground beef.
Yea Yogi, like the food we eat often isn’t good for us and certainly not wildlife.
Yikes! You warned him, and he went ahead and courted disaster? Was he 18-30?
Not 18-30, plenty old enough to know better.
No wonder I’m a bit of a misanthrope. People feeding animals always results in the animals being punished for seeing the people as a food source. You’d think the idea of THE PLAGUE would give them pause. Sounds like a good story to put in the “park information” given at the entrance.
When I get there, I’m for sure taking you up on that camping offer!! But you’ll be sorry when I never leave. LOL
Sherry, the wildlife message is in the paper given at the gate but nobody reads it.
If you stay too long you’ll get put to work.
Great Message!
I love the group you were speaking to…is that a mustache on your face?:)
That same message is going on down here as well. And I am going to admit this just once…..that first pic is adorable and I can see why people feed the wildlife……but…….it drives me crazy to see people doing this…….
You should show a picture of the woman mauled in her tent while she was sleeping to give people an idea of how wrong a wildlife encounter can be. Then I think they’ll stop feeding the critters:)
Chris, even when I tell them all the reasons not to feed the wildlife most of them just look at me like I’m crazy. My Lord, haven’t people seen squirrels before. They get so excited about them. Now I could see it if it was the Kaibab squirrel, which some think looks like a skunk. But really, it’s a damn squirrel. And yes they are cute. Plus I will admit that in my 20s I took a photo of one eating out of my hand. Young and dumb.
You have me laughing. I love how they will sometimes shrug you off and ignore you when you let them know how dangerous it is. Last weekend I watched a volunteer in Ramsey Canyon allow kids to carry around reptiles! I was a bit livid. I know kids like to pick things up but not to carry around…..there were so many beautiful Arizona Sister’s flying around and this girl was carrying several with her. It brought up bad memories of our Butterfly Magic. We’re starting up again in October and I hate telling parents to watch their kids and ignore the rules. I don’t work on school days as I’m at school myself….but on vacation…it’s just the weekends when the older adults come:)
Chris, it’s about time for mostly senior travelers now, but they sometimes act just as ignorant as the kids. I’ve asked many a child not to pick up the lizards. What’s up with all this wildlife harassment?
He-he. Love the “PLEASE DONT FEED THE PEOPLE!”
And, yes, by feeding wild animals we harass them.
When will people learn?
it’s the same in urban parks too..you would think that feeding a pigeon would not be so exciting but obviously at a park it is (on a city street not). yet visitors scream & complain when the gulls do a fly by & snatch the hot dog out of their hands..well if you didn’t feed them all the time they wouldn’t be so brazen..don’t ya think????
on another note..back in the 80’s at the statue of liberty we had a bomb dog & would stand on the dock with her & inspect the visitors as they came off the ferry. children would stop by to pet her & she would oh so slowly reach over & snatch their ice cream cones. yep. no explosives found in that ice cream. here is $1 please go get yourself another & enjoy your visit.
enjoy your blog. i miss my time with the ol’ gray & green.
Lois, if people weren’t such idiots at the parks we wouldn’t have any good stories to tell, like your bomb dog. Thanks for stopping by.
I tell people all the time not to feed the animals, even if they are cute. You feed them once and you will never get them out of your campsite. And they will get into your food while you are gone.
Karen, I am always surprised at how many people leave food sitting out in the campground when they walk away. Guess if they go without dinner it’s their own fault but hate creating the behavior pattern for the critters.
And if this guy gets bitten then the park gets blamed if after you had told him not to
People do get bitten Firefly. Then they come looking for first aid. Don’t think they can blame the park though.