Hi everyone.
A left of field question
When bush/free camping is it still acceptable to put out vegi and fruit scraps for the wildlife (away from campsites). I know there is major effort to leave camp sites as we find them but this was something I did as a kid, thoughts?
Sylva.
jules47 said
02:53 AM Jan 21, 2013
Someone told me once that orange peel takes 25 years to break down in the environment, so I don't feed any wild animals anything, but think I am in a minority - but that's my thoughts on it - for what its worth.
Gerty Dancer said
02:58 AM Jan 21, 2013
Not a good idea Sylva, it encourages them (dingoes, goannas, crows, possums, rats) to scrounge around campsites. Even putting it some distance away wont stop them knowing where it came from.
Tourists often feed the wildlife, not realising that its not good for them. eg, kangaroos shouldnt eat bread, they cant clear it from their mouth properly so then they keep a bolus of bread in their cheeks which eventually gives them mouth ulcers. But it tastes good so they eat it.
Dougwe said
03:05 AM Jan 21, 2013
Gerty Dancer wrote:
Not a good idea Sylva, it encourages them (dingoes, goannas, crows, possums, rats) to scrounge around campsites. Even putting it some distance away wont stop them knowing where it came from.
Tourists often feed the wildlife, not realising that its not good for them. eg, kangaroos shouldnt eat bread, they cant clear it from their mouth properly so then they keep a bolus of bread in their cheeks which eventually gives them mouth ulcers. But it tastes good so they eat it.
Don't forget wombat GD, Ooops forgot the, 's
Gerty Dancer said
03:15 AM Jan 21, 2013
I've never met a wombat scrounging for scraps Doug, not even our Tame Wombat! Roos do it a bit, and wallabies too but usually they are a bit more shy. You just dont want to meet those other hungry animals... more than a nuisance sometimes.
elliemike said
03:38 AM Jan 21, 2013
Sylva wrote:
Hi everyone. A left of field question When bush/free camping is it still acceptable to put out vegi and fruit scraps for the wildlife (away from campsites). I know there is major effort to leave camp sites as we find them but this was something I did as a kid, thoughts? Sylva.
Take it away with you, or bury it about 300 mm or more in the earth.
Try to only leave faint Tyre tracks and Footprints.
The the Fauna and Flora around each campsite can look after themselves very well if we dont damage their habitat. Thats what we like about bush camping anyway I think, "The Bush" Our very presence disturbs them somewhat anyway.
Collecting wood for campfires is a major source of Habitat loss, destroying food chain resources for various species as well.
Wood collecting for campfires denudes some campsites of any shade and privacy. Then there is no where left to have a Crap and leave screeds of toilet paper behind.
EllenajoeL said
04:10 AM Jan 21, 2013
@Sylva, if you aren't comfortable with animals, birds, fish and insects leaving food scraps and other 'crap' (both literal and figurative) in your 'home'..... then I would suggest you have answered your own question already.
IMHO, there are many ways to take care of/ suitably deal with 'refuse'.... and its very much part of a responsible camper's lifestyle to act responsibly here too.
Happywanderer said
05:39 AM Jan 21, 2013
Rubbish bag and dumped in the next rubbish bin. But I do feed wild bird seed to the birds at my place in Qld, they are so beautiful to have around.
cannylass said
11:22 PM Jan 21, 2013
We take our rubbish home or until we have a rubbish bin that the birds can't get in . Some bins over flow on to the ground making the place untidy
Onedodger said
01:01 AM Jan 22, 2013
We carry a rubbish bag on the spare tyre of the tug (Patrol) use it until we can empty it into a proper receptacle. However when we have a campfire then all combustible rubbish is burnt as we go. Cans are crushed and with bottles are put in the rubbish bag for later disposal.
Tourists often feed the wildlife, not realising that its not good for them. eg, kangaroos shouldnt eat bread, they cant clear it from their mouth properly so then they keep a bolus of bread in their cheeks which eventually gives them mouth ulcers. But it tastes good so they eat it.
Don't forget wombat GD, Ooops forgot the, 's
Take it away with you, or bury it about 300 mm or more in the earth.
Try to only leave faint Tyre tracks and Footprints.
The the Fauna and Flora around each campsite can look after themselves very well if we dont damage their habitat. Thats what we like about bush camping anyway I think, "The Bush" Our very presence disturbs them somewhat anyway.
Collecting wood for campfires is a major source of Habitat loss, destroying food chain resources for various species as well.
Wood collecting for campfires denudes some campsites of any shade and privacy. Then there is no where left to have a Crap and leave screeds of toilet paper behind.
@Sylva, if you aren't comfortable with animals, birds, fish and insects leaving food scraps and other 'crap' (both literal and figurative) in your 'home'..... then I would suggest you have answered your own question already.
IMHO, there are many ways to take care of/ suitably deal with 'refuse'.... and its very much part of a responsible camper's lifestyle to act responsibly here too.
But I do feed wild bird seed to the birds at my place in Qld, they are so beautiful to have around.
We carry a rubbish bag on the spare tyre of the tug (Patrol) use it until we can empty it into a proper receptacle. However when we have a campfire then all combustible rubbish is burnt as we go. Cans are crushed and with bottles are put in the rubbish bag for later disposal.