It is no secret that the Ohio University campus (and Athens more broadly) is teeming with wildlife. Aside from the deer, squirrels and groundhogs associated with OU, other less common mammals such as beavers, bobcats and even black bears have also been observed in and around Athens County.
Although some of these animals, particularly those on campus, have become acclimated to humans due to seeing hundreds to thousands of people daily, they are still wildlife and should not be interacted with, which includes petting, feeding or even approaching them.
According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, feeding and interacting with wildlife comes with a host of risks for not only the animal but also possibly humans. Repetitive feeding in particular can change the animal’s behaviors to become more aggressive or bold in search of this new food source.
A recent instance capturing the internet’s attention was a 500-pound bear near Lake Tahoe affectionately named Hank the Tank, who broke into over 20 homes searching for food. Although Hank was captured by biologists and moved to a sanctuary in Colorado, she was lucky, as most bears (and most wildlife for that matter) that show these aggressive feeding habits are often put down.
Animals such as deer and squirrels mostly feed off vegetation, fruits, nuts and berries; their bodies are not adapted to the sugary, fatty processed foods humans have no issues digesting. Some foods and nutrients such as corn and other carbohydrates can even cause eroding of a deer’s stomach lining.
Even without feeding, animals can still be aggressive. After all, they are wild. If someone tries to interact with a smaller animal such as a squirrel or groundhog, they could easily bite if frightened. For larger mammals like deer, they could charge, which could cause serious injury. Bucksare extremely aggressive and territorial especially during the mating season in October through December.
If an animal does bite a human, it has the potential to transmit diseases such as rabies or hantavirus. Direct contact with an animal can also expose someone to any ticks they have on them, and thus Lyme disease.
The sixth principle of the Leave No Trace set of guidelines, the standard when it comes to minimizing human impact while recreating outdoors, is two simple words, “Respect wildlife.” This not only includes refraining from feeding them, but also keeping a safe distance and not interacting with the animal that could cause issues.
Just because a deer, squirrel or groundhog may come close to humans, that does not mean the person also needs to get closer. And just because a slice of pizza or a candy bar may be alright for a college student to eat does not mean the same will apply to wildlife. Both people and wildlife should observe each other from afar, as it is much safer for both parties.
Ethan Herx is a sophomore studying photojournalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Ethan know by emailing or tweeting them at eh481422@ohio.edu or @ethanherx.
