Key Points
* Apple cores don’t decompose properly on teh ground and can linger for months.
* They attract animals too roadsides, increasing the chances of deadly crashes for wildlife and people.
* Feeding wildlife can make animals sick, aggressive, and more likely to be killed by park rangers.
* Tossed apple seeds can grow where they don’t belong and upset the balance of local plant life.
Spending months of the year in national parks, Kevin Jackson, founder and lead guide for EXP Journeys, has seen firsthand how even small actions-such as tossing an apple core out of a car window-can have unintended and negative consequences for wildlife and their fragile ecosystems.
“The bottom line is,even with good intentions,tossing an apple core out the window can contribute to wildlife roadside fatalities,human-wildlife conflicts and ecological disruption,” he says.
Jackson and other experts detail why apple cores and other food waste are harmful, and why the best way to protect our natural habitats is not to throw anything out, even the seemingly harmless bits.
Meet the Expert
Related: 12 Things You Should Never Compost, According to Experts
01 of 06
It Won’t Break Down Quickly
Organic items like apple cores do not decompose properly when tossed out a car window. “Composting relies on a well-balanced mix of moisture, heat, oxygen, and abundant decomposer organisms-bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates-to break down material efficiently,” explains Lauren Click, executive director of lets Go Compost.
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Why You Shouldn’t Feed Apples to Wildlife
It’s tempting to share a snack with a cute animal, and apples seem harmless enough. though, feeding apples – or any human food – to wildlife can have surprisingly negative consequences. Here’s why you should resist the urge, even with seemingly innocent apple cores.
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Apples Aren’t a Natural Food Source
Wild animals thrive on diets suited to their specific needs. Apples simply aren’t part of that equation for most species.Introducing them disrupts their natural foraging behaviors and nutritional balance.
“Animals have evolved to digest the foods available in their natural habitats,” explains wildlife biologist Dr. Emily Carter. “Introducing novel foods like apples can throw off their digestive systems and prevent them from getting the nutrients they truly need.”
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Creates Dependency on humans
Regularly providing food, even something as seemingly benign as apple cores, can lead animals to become dependent on humans for sustenance. This dependency diminishes their natural foraging skills and makes them less self-sufficient.
“once an animal learns that humans are a reliable food source, it may spend less time searching for its natural food,” says wildlife rehabilitator Sarah Nelson. “This can be particularly problematic during harsh weather conditions when natural food sources are scarce.”
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Messes With Wildlife’s Digestion
Apples aren’t part of a wild animal’s diet,which makes it arduous for them to digest.
“Many animals are naturally drawn to discarded food, but apple cores ofen contain seeds and tough fibers that animals can struggle to digest properly,” says Nelson. “This can lead to digestive issues or, in certain specific cases, choking hazards.”
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Leads to Dangerous Wildlife-Human Interactions
When animals associate humans with food, they may become bolder and approach people more frequently. This can lead to dangerous encounters, especially with larger animals. Animals may lose their natural fear of humans, increasing the risk of conflict.
dr. Carter emphasizes, “Habituated animals can become a nuisance and even pose a threat to public safety. They may damage property or injure people in their attempts to obtain food.”
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Spreads Disease
Concentrating animals around food sources increases the risk of disease transmission. Close contact facilitates the spread of parasites and illnesses within and between species.
“Feeding stations can become breeding grounds for disease,” warns Nelson. “Animals congregating in one area are more likely to share pathogens, perhaps leading to outbreaks that can devastate local populations.”
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It’s Frequently enough Illegal
In many areas,feeding wildlife is actually illegal. regulations are in place to protect both animals and people. Penalties for violating these laws