Humans are to Blame for Colorado Town’s Wild Canine Problem

A recent story from The Aspen Times has reported that the neighboring ski town of Snowmass Village is currently experiencing a problem with two types of wild canines, and the blame is being placed on careless humans.

What's Going on in Colorado's Snowmass Village?

The article points out that the town has seen a major uptick in fox sightings, and it has been reported that this is a direct result of someone making the huge mistake of feeding them.

In addition, Snowmass Village has also seen an increase in coyote sightings, and while the two animals are similar, coyotes are more aggressive and can cause more damage.

Read More: Vintage Footage: When Feeding Wildlife in Colorado was Encouraged |

However, it should be noted that the act of feeding either of these animals is extremely dangerous, not just to humans, but also to pets and the animals themselves.

Feeding Wild Animals in Colorado Can Be Dangerous to Humans

Feeding wild animals effectively breaks down the instinctual fear that the animal has for humans, making encounters more commonplace and increasing the chance of an attack. An attack from one of these animals can result in the spread of diseases like rabies, and if the human is small enough, it could be fatal.

Feeding Wild Animals in Colorado Can Be Dangerous to Pets

Similar to the way that feeding wild animals makes them less afraid of humans, this also goes for pets, and can also result in attacks that may prove fatal.

Feeding Wild Animals in Colorado Can Be Dangerous to the Animals

Finally, when humans feed wild animals, they often come to rely on being fed rather than hunting down their own prey, which can cause the animal to starve. What's more, this trait is often passed down to the next generation, causing a massive disadvantage for the wild animal's ability to feed itself.

Check out the full story from The Aspen Times here.