Santa Monica officials are asking visitors to stop feeding squirrels at Palisades Park after handouts of junk food helped drive a local population surge. Wildlife experts say an abundant human food supply creates dependence, alters behavior and encourages overcrowding. The city has posted signs urging people not to feed birds or squirrels, and officials recommend nonlethal steps—like securing food and trash—to help restore ecological balance.
Santa Monica Asks Visitors to Stop Feeding Squirrels as Population Booms in Palisades Park
Santa Monica officials are urging park visitors and residents to stop feeding squirrels at Palisades Park after the rodents’ numbers surged in recent years. Wildlife rehabilitators and park staff say frequent handouts of human junk food have created an abundant, unnatural food supply that has allowed the squirrel population to balloon.
Squirrels have started to take over a Santa Monica park, with the coastal city asking residents for help in curbing the burgeoning population of the four-legged critters.
Video shot in the park shows dozens of squirrels roaming the grounds and scavenging items such as cheese crackers and even a packet of ranch dressing. The scene has left some visitors calling the animals “dominant” and describing the park as essentially taken over by the critters.
The squirrel population at Santa Monica’s Palisades Park has exploded in recent years, which is attributed to people feeding the squirrels junk food. CBS LA
“The problem is, it’s always the food supply,” said Marcia Rybak, director of Coast and Canyon Wildlife Rehabilitation, speaking to CBS News.
Why Feeding Makes the Problem Worse
Experts emphasize that food and shelter drive wildlife behavior. Feeding squirrels encourages dependence on people, alters their natural foraging patterns and can lead to unnaturally high local populations. The city posted signs last year warning that feeding birds and squirrels “creates an imbalance in native ecology” and “increases their dependence on people for food.”
Video taken from the park on Monday showed dozens of squirrels meandering about, some snacking on food items such as cheese crackers and even a packet of ranch dressing. CBS LA
Public Reaction and Nonlethal Options
Reactions among parkgoers are mixed: some find the squirrels charming, while others worry about overcrowding. Park visitors interviewed on-site urged caution about drastic removal measures, noting the animals are native to the area and nest in cliffside burrows bordering the park.
The signs say that feeding birds and squirrels, “creates an imbalance in native ecology,” adding that it, “increases their dependence on people for food.” CBS LA
City leaders reportedly discussed fertility-control measures for squirrels about 20 years ago, but the plan did not progress. Wildlife experts also warn that a sudden removal of food sources could temporarily increase aggressive behaviors as animals compete for scarce resources.
What Officials Recommend
Officials and wildlife rehabilitators recommend simple, nonlethal steps visitors can take: stop feeding wildlife, secure trash and picnic foods, and follow posted park guidance. These changes, they say, are the most effective first-line measures to restore ecological balance and curb the population over time.
Note: While officials have not confirmed cliff erosion directly caused by ground squirrels, experts acknowledge burrowing can contribute to landscape changes over time and will monitor the issue.
Help us improve.
