'Please don't feed the animals' is a familiar sign at zoos and could be a good slogan for the City of Nanaimo to remind residents not to feed wildlife.
Feeding wildlife, which includes giving food to deer and feral rabbits, is not permitted in the city and doing so puts animals at risk of being injured by predators and road traffic.
Feeding deer can also lead to injuries to humans and food for humans can also be unsuitable and even harmful to wildlife.
"The city encourages residents to have respect for wildlife and understand their natural foraging behaviour," Rod Davidson, city acting manager of bylaw, regulation and security, said in a press release.