Page 9 - Abacoa Community News - November '20

Abacoa, Page 9
Northern Notes

Please Don’t Feed Wildlife

By Katie Roundtree,
Finance Director, Northern
Palm Beach County
Improvement District
As temperatures in
Florida start to drop in the
fall, people and animals will
be outside more often in the
daylight hours, creating the
potential for contact and
conflicts. Throughout the digestive systems. Thus, they have a specific niche in the The FWC’s advice to anyone who enjoys wildlife is
years, The Florida Fish wild community where they feed and live in balance with to keep it wild! For those who enjoy viewing wildlife,
and Wildlife Conservation all other species. This balance is interfered with when the safest and most effective way to attract animals is to
Commission (FWC) receives many complaints regarding well-intentioned people feed what they think is a healthy provide good wildlife habitat. This is best accomplished
wildlife causing damage to private property or creating diet to wildlife. through the use of native vegetation. The FWC has
a public safety issue. Many complaints are the result of This practice also inevitably leads to unnatural publications online with information on developing
communities where intentional feeding of wildlife is concentrations of animals, both wild and domestic, your own backyard wildlife refuge. For those without
tolerated or where domestic animals are fed outdoors. looking for a handout. Wild animals are thus conditioned Internet service, copies or more information about
Whenever such conflicts arise, wildlife loses. While to associate humans with a feeding opportunity and the planting a backyard refuge may be obtained by calling
the species involved in each of these cases may be results are predictable – animals become a nuisance or writing your nearest FWC regional office. (Source:
different, the issue is always the same. Concerned and to property owners. Artificially high concentrations www.myFWC.com)
well-intentioned individuals start feeding wildlife, often of wildlife found at feeding stations also increase the NPDES Tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet
without regard for the quantity or types of feed being transmission of diseases that normally occur in low waste is washed into lakes or canals the waste decays,
offered. Wild animals have a complicated diet with concentrations. using up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia.
specific needs. If people feed them “treats,” they may not Feeding wildlife is generally discouraged and, in Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm
get the correct balance of nutrients to keep them healthy. some cases, illegal. In Florida, it is illegal to feed temperatures can kill fish. Pet waste also contains
All wild creatures have evolved over the millennia with gopher tortoises, sandhill cranes, bears, raccoons, foxes, nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth. Overly
an instinct to locate and eat a diet best suited to their own manatees and alligators. Intentionally placing food or fertile water becomes cloudy and green – unattractive for
garbage, allowing the placement of food or garbage, or boating and fishing. Perhaps most importantly, pet waste
offering food or garbage in such a manner that it attracts carries diseases which make water unsafe.
black bears, foxes, raccoons, gopher tortoises or sandhill
cranes and thereby creates a public nuisance is prohibited.
Because people establish an emotional connection
with wildlife that they feed, these situations often prove
difficult to resolve, because they involve changing
peoples’ attitudes and behaviors. Fortunately, educating
individuals how to responsibly attract wildlife often
resolves the problem. Communities can pursue a variety
of approaches to affect a remedy. In communities with a
homeowner’s association, residents may apply remedies
available to them through the association.

WORRY MEETS

ITS MATCH.

When it’s your loved one, decisions about senior living are a challenge. That’s where we can help. Committed to
your contentment, we o er you:

• Our patient, undivided attention and straight talk;
• An invitation to join your loved one in their new apartment for their first days a‰ter move-in; and
• If all our e orts to satisfy fail you, a complete refund a ter 60 days should you decide to move out.

JUST AHEAD: PEACE OF MIND.
Schedule a confidential conversation or a Q&A Zoom meeting with our Executive Director – and make
contentment happen. (561) 464-5053

WE PROMISE.
If you’re not satisfied and decide to move out within
your first 60 days, we’ll give you a complete refund.*

(561) 464-5053
1031 Community Drive
Jupiter, FL 33458

* Cedarhurst Promise™ program is only available at advertised community. Not applicable for respite
or other short-term stays. Refund is available only if move out is a result of dissatisfaction with
Cedarhurst community as documented throughout stay. Complete refund includes base rent, level
of care charges, and community fee. Ancillary services fees (ex. additional transportation, pet fees
and laundry charges) do not qualify for refund. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Please
contact community for additional details. Void where prohibited.