Sandhill cranes are majestic birds, recognized by their imposing stature and distinctive trumpeting calls. They inhabit diverse environments across North America, from wetlands and prairies to agricultural fields and even suburban areas. As human populations expand into these habitats, interactions between people and wildlife, including sandhill cranes, become more frequent. This often leads to a natural inclination among humans to feed these charismatic birds.
Natural Foraging Habits
Sandhill cranes are omnivores. They forage by probing the ground with their long bills. Their wild diet commonly consists of grains, seeds, berries, and plant tubers. They also consume insects, worms, small mammals, and small reptiles and amphibians. This diverse foraging behavior allows them to obtain all necessary nutrients from their natural surroundings.
Foods to Never Offer
Despite their varied natural diet, certain human foods are harmful to sandhill cranes and should never be offered. Bread provides minimal nutritional value and can lead to deficiencies in essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals. A diet heavy in bread can result in malnutrition and weaken their immune systems, making them more susceptible to illness. Processed foods, sugary items, and anything high in salt or artificial ingredients also lack necessary nutrients and can cause digestive issues or toxicity. Even seemingly benign items like moldy peanuts can produce mycotoxins that are lethal to cranes.
Why Supplemental Feeding Harms Cranes
Providing supplemental food to sandhill cranes, even seemingly appropriate items, can have numerous negative consequences. Human food often lacks the balanced nutritional profile cranes require, leading to nutritional imbalances that can compromise their health. Regular feeding can create a dependency on human handouts, causing cranes to lose their natural foraging skills.
Increased congregation of birds at feeding sites can facilitate the rapid spread of diseases among crane populations. Cranes gathering in predictable, open areas due to food availability become more vulnerable to predators. When cranes become habituated to humans through feeding, they may lose their natural fear, leading to aggressive behaviors such as pecking people or damaging property as they seek food. This habituation can disrupt their natural migration patterns, as they may linger in areas longer than is natural if food is readily available, impacting their long-term survival.
Legal Considerations of Feeding
Feeding sandhill cranes can also carry legal implications. Sandhill cranes are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918, a law that prohibits the capture, killing, or possession of these birds without proper permits. While the MBTA primarily addresses hunting and possession, feeding can be considered harassment or an indirect form of harm, leading to legal repercussions.
Laws regarding feeding wildlife, including sandhill cranes, vary by state and local municipality. For example, in Florida, it is explicitly illegal to intentionally feed sandhill cranes, a regulation implemented due to concerns about public safety and the birds’ welfare. Individuals should always check with their local wildlife agencies to understand specific regulations in their area, as violating these laws can result in penalties.