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 of the animals in that it lures the animals into areas of insufficient natural foods which lack the appropriate nutritional values and can either cause deformities or be fatal to the animal; and
WHEREAS, people who utilize the park areas or waterways where there is a higher concentration of these animal populations are more susceptible to health and safety risks; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
Section 1. That the Columbus City Codes, 1959, are hereby supplemented by adoption of a new Section 919.27 reading as follows:
919.27 Feeding of Wildlife Prohibited
(A). For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) "Wildlife"- means living animals and especially mammals, birds, and fishes
that are neither human nor domesticated.
(2) "Migratory Waterfowl"- means waterfowl that make regular annual
movements between two places often in response to temperature changes,
food availability and breeding opportunities.
(3) "Non-migratory Waterfowl"- means waterfowl that may fly large distances
within a day, but return to a particular area at night.
(4) "Resident Canada Geese"- means Canada geese that nest within the lower
48 states during the months of March, April,, May or June and/or Canada
geese that reside within the lower 48 states during certain months of the
year.
(5) "Domestic Waterfowl"- means non-native ducks, geese and swans not
retained in agricultural operations.
(6) "Feed or Feeding" - means the act or the furnishing of food or other
sustenance.
(B). No person shall feed, cause to be fed, or provide food for migratory waterfowl, non-migratory waterfowl, resident Canada Geese, domestic waterfowl or wildlife on any City controlled property or waterways.
(C). The following activities are exempted from the prohibition against feeding wildlife contained in subsection (B):
(1). The use of bird feeders at nature centers operated by the City of Columbus.
(2). Fishing on City controlled property or waterways by an individual authorized to do so by the state of Ohio pursuant to the issuance of a valid fishing license.
(3). Additional activities as authorized by the Director pursuant to the issuance of a written permit.
(D). Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor under City Code 919.99(A).
Section 2. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowable by law.