The recent visit of a pair of moose to a Portland neighborhood highlights the increasing numbers of deep-woods critters in more urban areas. Or, as one lady in the area of moose sighting so candidly put it, “We’re being invaded by animals like this!”

Really?

How about if, within our ceaseless push for development, we’ve been the invaders? Whenever a luckless moose wanders south from the Mooshead or Rangely country, he’s one scared brute when he crashes into congested neighborhoods. Black bears too get into the mix and wander south. Mostly harmless if left alone, blackie is more confused than belligerent. But the fact that he’s often here generates concern. Add in a proliferation of coyotes, and there’s quite a nighttime menagerie out there.

Sometimes, there’s a temptation to feed these critters, much to the dismay of wildlife people – and this includes animals all the way from birds to biggies.

A few years back, a municipal dump between Greenville and Rockwood attracted a lot of attention because of foraging bears attracted to it. It was a great place to pull off the highway, sit in the car and watch as many as a half-dozen bears search for anything edible. But as often happens, the activities of a few disrupted the viewing of hungry bears. Amateur photographers, searching for the ultimate shot, left vehicles and moved in closer, cameras in hand. A few bears charged the thoughtless visitors and a true safety hazard prompted game wardens to put a stop to what had been an interesting spectacle.

Wildlife people have long advised against feeding wild animals. The pathetic little fawn that wanders into your backyard depends on his mommy for food. Same thing for any animal worthy of note, including nocturnal predators.

For obvious reasons, owners of coastal eateries urge customers, by voice or graphic signs, NOT to feed the seagulls! My wife and I witnessed exactly the opposite at a mall parking lot!

This individual, armed with a plastic pail full of gull-food, started throwing handfuls to the two or three soaring birds. In a matter of seconds, the air was full of delighted seagulls and the pavement became covered with a squawking frenzy! It remained thus until the pail was empty. That, my friends, was about as exciting as the second suck on a lolly-pop!

There’s a cycle in animal-feeding that you might not be aware of. This one starts with feeding birds. Imagine, if you will, a cluster of bird feeders in the backyard where perhaps, from a kitchen window, you can see feathered friends accepting your donated seeds with relish. Most of us like a variety of feeders and it’s great to see the varied different species of birds thus attracted.

Like taxes and the price of gasoline, there’s a down side here.

Hungry birds, clumsy birds and careless birds spill seeds to the ground. Squirrels and chipmunks forever in the hunt for a free lunch, find a place where the supply is constant and available. The family cat, at his best in nocturnal surroundings, relishes a squirrel or chipmunk so he too haunts the area around the bird feeders. Foxes know when the squirrel and chipmunk populations are up and there’s no better way to assault their numbers than in the bird feeder area. Strangely enough, it’s been reported that marauding bears are also attracted to bird feeders! But in our diggings, Mr. Coyote tops the free lunch line around the bird feeders. Bushy-tailed foxes are no match for this one and they won’t challenge him. To a coyote, red and gray squirrels are delicious tidbits but cats are a more satisfying meal, especially if it’s mealtime at the den.

Where I live, the attrition of family cats has been extensive over many months. During the last week in July, a coyote gave us a nighttime serenade close to our bedroom window somewhere around 10 o’clock. Not too long ago, a broad-shouldered coyote watched me from a neighbor’s lawn while I retrieved the morning paper. Even wild turkeys now explore all areas of our neighborhoods.

Not different; just more crowded.