Some people legitimately have no idea how to act around wild animals because the only animals they’ve ever interacted with are pets or non-lethal “pest” animals (seagulls, pigeons, etc.). Those unfamiliar may often see parks as a petting zoo photo op.
Hell, the last time I posted on Facebook was to warn the neighborhood that there was a dodgy-lookin’ raccoon out in the middle of the day and to tell their kids walking home from school not to approach it.
The amount of replies telling me to feed it, approach it, pet it, (or discharge a firearm in a residential area) were staggering. Grown adults. So I am not surprised that folks make bad decisions around wildlife.
Some people legitimately have no idea how to act around wild animals because the only animals they’ve ever interacted with are pets or non-lethal “pest” animals (seagulls, pigeons, etc.). Those unfamiliar may often see parks as a petting zoo photo op.
Hell, the last time I posted on Facebook was to warn the neighborhood that there was a dodgy-lookin’ raccoon out in the middle of the day and to tell their kids walking home from school not to approach it.
The amount of replies telling me to feed it, approach it, pet it, (or discharge a firearm in a residential area) were staggering. Grown adults. So I am not surprised that folks make bad decisions around wildlife.