A harbor seal attacked a five-year-old girl in Vancouver recently, latching onto her hand and pulling her into the water. She escaped and was treated for puncture wounds. Paul Cottrell of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is quoted as saying, “This is a case of a harbor seal misinterpreting this girl’s hand, thinking that it was a piece of fish.”
The girl, Caleigh, had been cleaning fish and throwing scraps to the seals – something that lots of people in the area do on fishing trips, though it’s discouraged. The scent of fish on her hands was probably what misled the seal.

The U.S. Forest Service says the leading cause of conflict between humans and wild animals is our feeding, or even just approaching, them. And it doesn’t take conflict for damage to be done.

Wild animals don’t necessarily know what’s food for them and what isn’t – or even what ‘s  edible  and what isn’t. We can’t count on their instincts to keep them safe.

Daniel Boone National Forest’s website describes the permanent harm that can come from feeding wild animals:

· Animals fed along roads tend to stay near the road, increasing the chances of vehicle-animal accidents.
· Animals used to human food may eat aluminum foil, plastic, or other wrappings. These can damage animals’ digestive systems severely and may even cause death.
· Human food may cause tooth decay, ulcers, malformation of horns, arthritis, or other disease in wild animals.
· Animals may try to eat any item with an odor. Do not leave boxes, wrappers, plastics, or cans of any type where animals can get them. Litter can harm animals!

Not to mention that they may end up, literally, biting the hand that feeds them.