If you’re an avid wildlife enthusiast who loves to leave treats for wild animals who visit your yard, the state of Washington has a request: Please stop.

As of May 17, it is illegal in Washington state to feed specific wild animals — deer, elk and moose in particular.

Prior to the new law, Bellingham was the only local government in the state that already had a similar ban in place. In 2017, Bellingham made it illegal to feed deer.

Part of the problem is that new illnesses are popping up among the state’s wild residents and officials want to curb them from spreading and worsening.

“People often think they are helping wildlife by feeding them, or simply hoping that providing food will give them a better opportunity to observe their wild neighbors,” states a Washington Department of Fish

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