The animals of the park are an integral part of the wilderness scene.
The principal purpose for which the park was established was to preserve
and display the natural wilderness. Thus, the animals are wild, living
in their natural habitat. Not only must the animals and their normal
habits be preserved, but their wilderness home as well. Whether the
presence of man will be disturbing to the wilderness and its dwellers
depends upon how humans behave in it. Any act that would tend to break
down wilderness animal behavior is harmful to wildlife and is a
violation of park rules.
Proper behavior of park visitors in the presence of national park
animals may need explanation. The feeding of wild animals by man is
harmful to their best interest. For thousands of years they have been
able to feed themselves, and their continued well-being depends on their
doing so now and in the future. For example, black bears in Olympic have
not yet become troublesome, but bears, by nature, are inclined to become
spoiled if artificial feeding habits are encouraged. Bears normally eat
many kinds of plant and animal foods, but a camper’s larder contains
tidbits that would tickle the palate of any bear. If an animal learns to
associate food delicacies with campers, he will repeatedly seek
experiences of that kind to the everlasting annoyance, misfortune, and
even tragedy of the campers. The thoughtless camper who wilfully, or
negligently, starts the bear on the road to ruin may escape the
consequences. It is the bear himself and people who appear on the scene
later who suffer for the deeds of earlier campers. The bear may become a
dangerous nuisance and may have to be destroyed.
The only intelligent and humane solution is to refrain from all
practices which tend to disturb or change the animal’s normal way of
life. Self-restraint and good camping practice are necessary in order to
accomplish this. Under no circumstances offer food to a bear or leave
food or garbage where he can get at it. Remember that he is powerfully
muscled and can climb trees. Refuse, including cans and bottles, should
be burned not only to destroy all that is edible but to destroy food
odors. Then, when the charred cans and bottles are placed in refuse
containers or buried, the bears will not smell them and dig them out.
While emphasis has been placed on the proper relationship with the bear,
the same attitude toward other animals will help insure their well-being
and your safety. Any attempt to feed a deer or a bear invites injury.
Proper conduct in relation to wild animals is so important that
regulations now prohibit the feeding, touching, teasing, or molesting of
any bear, deer, elk, moose, bison, bighorn, or pronghorn in National
Parks. The first three are found in Olympic.