Do you feed the rabbits?

[Colson39]

And if so, what do you feed them? Carrots???

 

[Rhonda]

No, I've never fed the rabbits. But, we used to feed popcorn to the peacocks! And, we love feeding the Muscovy ducks!

 

[big kahuna1]

Yepper! We feed them carrots and lettuce. They love it!

 

[John VN]

We feed nothing other than ourselves or guests. The critters must fend for themselves.

 

[JPG]

Duh........rabbit food.....

 

[hatchmo]

Offficially, we don't feed them anything. Unofficially, that's another story...
We've observed rabbits loving carrot sticks, and birds of all kinds enjoying feed from a bird feeder. Nearly all the animals at the Fort have become scavengers and will eat about anything they are fed. Never heard of anyone taming an armadillo, though.

 

[Colson39]

Does anyone remember the little fish pellets you used to be able to buy on the docks while waiting for the boats? I was kind of sad to see them take it away, it was always fun when you had little one's with you to watch them get all excited

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

We had a duck that frequented our site over Memorial Day. We named him Charlie and he had an affinity for Cheese Nips.

My DH also had a little goldfinch land on his leg and eat the Hostess cherry pie right out of his hand. Very cool!!

As we were only down for a quick trip we didn't have any lettuce or carrots. Sorry bunnies.

 

[Rhonda]

Does anyone remember the little fish pellets you used to be able to buy on the docks while waiting for the boats? I was kind of sad to see them take it away, it was always fun when you had little one's with you to watch them get all excited

Yes! I loved feeding ducks the fish food! I suppose that's why they don't provide fish food anymore!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I always thought that food was for the ducks.

 

[Colson39]

If I remember correctly it said fish pellets or something on the outside case, I'm not positive. I do know however that the majority of the food when we used it or when I saw people use it went to the fish that congregated near the edge of the dock.

I still see the fish from time to time, but back when those pellet things were there you could see a lot of fish while waiting for the boats.

 

[Gatordad]

If we can catch the rabbits, we feed them to the alligators.....

and we saw a duck with a gimp today, poor thing...... hop hop hop

 

[Rhonda]

If we can catch the rabbits, we feed them to the alligators.....

I'm sure the alligators can find their own food!

and we saw a duck with a gimp today, poor thing...... hop hop hop

 

[John VN]

OK, I guess I'll be the one.

Just another "Disney's Please Do Not Do Thing" to disregard.

 

[hatchmo]

I understand the "please do not do" request. Rats are a problem at FW, and I don't mean the friendly variety as in Rata2e. Rat traps are in many areas of the Fort. We don't help the problem by feeding the animals. That's why you wont catch me admitting on this board that I feed the animals, if you know what I mean.

 

[AuburnJen92]

I still see the fish from time to time, but back when those pellet things were there you could see a lot of fish while waiting for the boats.

I think I know where the fish went. We saw a CM with a loaf of bread feeding the fish at the WL dock. Even the birds were getting in the act! My DS3 loved watching her!

 

[Sinclare]

Just got back from 2 1/2 weeks at the fort (camping in 2000 loop). We had a couple families of turkeys come by the tent on a regular basis and threw a little bread their way

The funniest thing though was as I was loading up the bike rack Monday night I heard something, looked over, but didn't see anything. I went back to work, then heard it again. When I looked over this time I saw it, our friendly neighborhood squirrel had broken into a 3 pack of chocolate muffins (the good kind) I was saving for the trip home breakfast. Someone was walking by the site when I leaned against the truck and said "YOU KNOW those are MY muffins!" I can only assume they thought I was crazy


Oh not that I actually know but... I hear the rabbits are just crazy about fruit loops

 

[perdidobay]

Just remember while you are having fun entertaining yourself and kids by feeding wild animals food of a human kind, be it junk food or veggies, you are helping to kill them.....
it not only means an early death from a bad diet they were not meant to eat, but it encourages them to socialize with humans, who are not all nice, and not all safe.

Sorry to be a debbie downer, but this is my biggest "pet" peeve, esp in National Park campgrounds, but anywhere it happens, it's wrong.

If you don't care one bit about wild animals of course, maybe you would be interested in keeping your children free of lyme disease, plague, and rabies, at least.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/animals/wildlife.htm

Edited to add... if your child wants to feed a wild animal, turn it around and make it a teachable moment explaining to them why that would be a bad thing, although it seems like a good thing.

 

[Rhonda]

perdidobay--I agree totally with what you are saying. When I'm in a State or National park, or someplace else in the wilderness.

In the wilderness, such as National Parks, we don't want the animals to get used to coming to people for food. That could enable the spread of diseases, not to mention it would make it difficult for the animals to find food the natural way, without the help of humans.

But, I've never considered the ducks at FW to be wild animals. I agree that we wouldn't want to feed them candy or things that aren't good for them. But a few bites of bread or some leftover meat & veggies isn't bad for them. (I used to raise ducks and they always got our leftovers).

I don't think the FW ducks are going anywhere in their lifetime! It's almost like camping in a petting zoo! LOL!

Thanks for the reminders!

 

[perdidobay]

perdidobay--I agree totally with what you are saying. When I'm in a State or National park, or someplace else in the wilderness.

In the wilderness, such as National Parks, we don't want the animals to get used to coming to people for food. That could enable the spread of diseases, not to mention it would make it difficult for the animals to find food the natural way, without the help of humans.

But, I've never considered the ducks at FW to be wild animals. I agree that we wouldn't want to feed them candy or things that aren't good for them. But a few bites of bread or some leftover meat & veggies isn't bad for them. (I used to raise ducks and they always got our leftovers).

I don't think the FW ducks are going anywhere in their lifetime! It's almost like camping in a petting zoo! LOL!

Thanks for the reminders!

My only argument with your thinking: it's ok because it's ducks... well even though they live there they are still WILD animals who might be feed something you feel is ok.. but when you are long gone and then the next campers come along and think how fun it is to feed them cheese nips, the ducks will come right up and eat -still live a very shortened life.... if not shorter because not so nice little Timmy thinks it's cute to kick the duck to death. And you and I feeding them just makes them loose that fear of humans they should have.

My DD worked at a zoo for 4 years and the things people did to large mammals, let alone ducks ( they lost 4 ducks in one day alone because kids thought it was fun to kick them along the ground). The stories my dd could tell you would make you cry.
I'm not trying to make you out to be a bad guy in this, I know I'm up against almost everyone in my opinion.

And on the other hand, do you want people feeding the birds around you at the parks?
It's the same issue there..... after all, poop is poop on a table in a campground or at a table on Main Street.