Explanation
The increase of certain urban wildlife populations including geese, ducks, deer and raccoon, combined with the practice of people feeding the wildlife has caused unhealthy conditions for people, their pets and the wildlife themselves. Feeding the wildlife increases the local population into a limited area resulting in the accumulation of animal waste and increasing the spread of disease to both humans and wildlife, increasing their dependency on humans while at the same time increasing the number of attacks on humans. Feeding the wildlife decreases the usability of park areas, decreases water quality and decreases the nutrition and health of wildlife resulting in the loss of feeding and migratory instincts. The goal of this legislation is to prohibit people from feeding wildlife thereby enhancing the health and safety of people who utilize the park areas and waterways as well as increasing the health, safety, diversity and overall welfare of the wildlife.
Fiscal Impact: No fiscal impact.
Title
To enact Section 919.27 in Title 9, Streets, Parks and Public Properties, in order to prohibit the feeding of wildlife on City controlled property or waterways.
Body
WHEREAS, the increase of certain urban wildlife populations including geese, ducks, deer and raccoon combined with the practice of people feeding the wildlife has caused unhealthy conditions for people, their pets and the wildlife; and
WHEREAS, feeding wildlife concentrates unusually high numbers of the wildlife within limited areas causing a deterioration of the local environment and a concentrated accumulation of animal waste; and
WHEREAS, the animal waste creates high levels of germs and bacteria which spread disease through the wildlife populations and cause unhealthy situations for humans and their pets and also increases bacteria levels in local streams, lakes and reservoirs, lowering water quality; and
WHEREAS, feeding wildlife is not good for the health...
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