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Council adopts ordinance restricting feeding of feral ducks and feral cats with several exceptions
Summary
La Porte adopted an amendment to Chapter 14 prohibiting feeding feral ducks and feral cats on private property (with exceptions for city parks, bird feeders on private property, permitted hunting baiting, wildlife management activities and domestic livestock/poultry). The ordinance allows feeding at city parks and prescribes fines up to $2,000 upon conviction.
City staff introduced an amendment to Chapter 14 to regulate feeding of feral ducks and feral cats, aimed at curbing growing feral populations and associated nuisance issues. The proposed ordinance defines feral ducks (notably feral Muscovy ducks) and feral cats, allows feeding at city parks, and contains several exceptions including bird feeders on private property (for small-scale wild-bird feeding), individuals with hunting permits using bait lawfully, authorized live-trapping, those raising domestic livestock or poultry on their own property, and recognized wildlife-management activities.
Council members asked whether large-lot owners or private-pond owners would be exempt; staff said the ordinance contains exceptions intended to protect residents who keep domesticated ducks or have bird feeders for songbirds and that the ordinance focuses on preventing intentional feeding of feral populations on private property. On a council motion, the ordinance was adopted; the penalty for a conviction is a fine of up to $2,000, to be determined by a court if prosecuted.
