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Council introduces ordinance to ban intentional feeding of wild turkeys
Summary
Council accepted for first reading an ordinance to prohibit intentional feeding of wild turkeys and allow code enforcement to issue violations; planting shrubs and live plants are not affected, staff clarified.
Rochester Hills — Council members voted to accept for first reading a proposed ordinance that would prohibit the intentional feeding of wild turkeys within the city, creating a separate "turkey management" article in the animals chapter of the code.
City attorney/staff (Mr. Albert) explained the ordinance was drafted after a citizen presentation and is modeled to make turkey-feeding enforcement clearer and separate from deer-related provisions. Mr. Blair, who moved the ordinance, and other councilmembers discussed enforcement practicalities; staff advised residents to contact code enforcement or the parks department and noted enforcement typically starts with a complaint and inspection.
Council and staff clarified the ordinance targets intentional feeding — "throwing something on the ground" — and does not prohibit live plantings such as raspberry or blackberry bushes. "It doesn't have to do with any type of plantings," staff said when answering a council question about plantings.
The ordinance was accepted for first reading by council voice vote. Staff offered to provide data on how many calls code enforcement receives about deer or turkey feeding.
What comes next: Staff will supply any requested enforcement call counts and the ordinance will return for subsequent reading(s) per council rules.
