AR-News: (US TX) Wildlife feeders face possible fines

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

Posted on Mon, Mar. 01, 2004Associated Press


SAN ANTONIO - There's a new warning for visitors at state parks: don't feed 
the wildlife.
Giving handouts to hungry animals can result in a fine of up to $500, under a 
new law that goes into effect this month.
The law is designed to protect state park visitors from close encounters with 
wild animals and to keep deer, raccoons, javelina and other animals from 
disrupting their natural feeding, said Walt Dabney, the state parks director.
Last year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said, workers shot and 
killed a javelina at Choke Canyon State Park and a feral hog at Fairfield Lake 
State Park when they endangered campers after learning to associate people with 
their meals.
"I know we have a large problem with animals being fed, and hopefully we can 
get a handle on it pretty quick," Dabney told the San Antonio Express-News in 
Monday's online edition.
The hog at Fairfield Lake State Park was killed after it aggressively chased 
a young girl as she made her way back to her campsite.
"If it had caught her, we would have had a tragedy," he said.







full story:

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/8075433.htm 
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