Council reviews proposed ordinance to restrict wildlife feeding, debates feeder-height, enforcement

Dawn (Health Department) presented a draft revision to the village’s wildlife-feeding rules proposing to prohibit purposely feeding unconfined wildlife on public or private property and to allow bird feeding only from specific types of feeders. The draft defines allowed feeders as raised at least 8 feet off the ground with food-catch devices or feeders with openings that prevent wildlife from accessing the feed, and it limits feeders to no more than three per property.

Deputy Mayor Perrin, Council members and animal-control contractor Tycho joined the discussion. Council members suggested technical edits: lowering the required minimum clearance from 8 feet to 6 feet to reflect commonly available pole heights and to address accessibility concerns, and moving enforcement-language from the ordinance’s purpose section into the prohibited-acts section. Staff said they would revise the draft accordingly.

Council members noted public-health and nuisance concerns: the draft cites the H5N1 avian influenza and Lyme disease ticks carried by deer and rodents as part of the public-health rationale. Some members asked staff to clarify Cornell and Audubon guidance; staff said Cornell’s ornithology researchers indicate low H5N1 risk from songbirds and that feeders should not be removed solely for H5N1 concerns unless domestic poultry are present.

The council generally supported forwarding a redrafted ordinance to the clerk for introduction at the next public meeting. Staff were directed to make the technical edits (move violation language to the prohibited-acts section, change clearance to six feet or equivalent restriction on wildlife access, keep the three-feeder limit) and to circulate the revised text to the clerk for scheduling.