Council looking for feedback on wildlife feeding bylaw

ingersolltimes.com
May 13, 2016
By John Tapley

The Town of Ingersoll is organizing a meeting to get public input on its proposed wildlife feeding ban bylaw.

Council directed town staff to investigate a possible bylaw prohibiting feeding of wildlife on private property and report back following a presentation from Ingersoll resident Jim Gonder at the March 14 council meeting.

Gonder asked council to consider a bylaw addressing concerns about feeding wildlife in residential neighbourhoods.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Oxford County Board of Health have confirmed this is a town issue,” Gonder said.

Those concerned with the issue aren't against bird feeders, Gonder said, but open feeding and feed spillage is resulting in an unnatural increase in wildlife populations in Ingersoll, including squirrels, skunks, chipmunks, raccoons, moles, voles, possums and feral cats.

With a food source readily accessible, he said, the animals cease foraging for food, which is unhealthy for them and can result in disease.

Plentiful sources of food have also resulted in starlings and cows pushing song birds out of the area, Gonder said.

Overfeeding also attracts foxes and coyotes, “which can prey on neighbourhood pets,” he said.

Feces produced by the animals and property damage are also part of the equation, said Gonder.

The proposed bylaw states in part that “no person shall intentionally feed a wild animal or leave food or attractants of any type or form outdoors in such a manner as to attract or be accessible by a wild animal or a feral or stray domestic animal on private property.

If passed, that section of the bylaw wouldn't apply to feeding birds on private property, provided that “seed or other feed is placed in a bird feeding device that is sufficiently above grade as to not attract or be accessible to wild animals.”

And that “spillage of seed or other feed upon the ground is removed by the property owner or occupier forthwith and disposed of in such a manner that it does not attract wild animals or feral or stray domestic animals.”

The bylaw also wouldn't apply to property owners trapping nuisance animals, licensed trappers and employees of a licensed wildlife or pest control agency, officials with government agencies and fruits and vegetables grown on private property for human consumption.

“In no way, shape or form is the Town of Ingersoll stopping the feeding of birds, never was that our intent,” said Mayor Ted Comiskey, addressing concerns that the bylaw would stop residents from having bird feeders on their property. “Open feeding of animals is the concern. You can still feed the birds.”

The date and location of the public meeting are still to be determined.