If we give people-food to animals, we change the animals' diets. And our snack foods usually contain too much salt, sugar, or other stuff that can make animals sick and even kill them. If they ever get close enough to scratch or bite you, they may pass along a bad disease called rabies. When wild animals learn that they can get food from humans, they often begin to demand it. Geese sometimes chase children and jab them.
Squirrels run up people's pants legs and scratch their skin.
And bears may raid campsites and even smash car windshields while searching for an easy meal. Park rangers would much rather teach people not to feed animals than give out tickets. The rangers know that most people don't mean any harm. But when people keep ignoring the signs or just don't listen, the rangers have to get tough. Here are some great ideas for getting involved.