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Committee discusses reopening code, drafting new ordinance to curb intentional feeding after spike in bear encounters
Summary
Red Lodge committee members debated reopening an existing ordinance or drafting a new ordinance to address intentional feeding and other attractants after multiple bear incidents; state statute 87-6-216 and local code limits were discussed as enforcement constraints.
Committee members raised public-safety and wildlife concerns after recent bear encounters and discussed whether to reopen a trash-focused ordinance or draft a separate ordinance explicitly targeting intentional feeding and attractants. One committee member urged the city to treat intentional baiting more severely: “I think they're intentionally doing it, and that should have a more significant fine,” the committee member said.
Speakers referenced Montana law in the course of the discussion. The Chair quoted Montana statute numbers and an enforcement range: “According to Montana legislature, 87 dash 6 2 16, unlawful supplemental feeding...the fine for illegally feeding wildlife ranges from $50 to 1,000 plus potential jail time for up to 6 months,” and members discussed why the town's practical penalty had averaged roughly $134. Staff cautioned that municipal authority may be constrained by MCA 7-1-111, which lists subjects on which cities cannot pass ordinances, and recommended legal counsel review whether a new or revised local ordinance is permissible and how it should be drafted.
The committee asked staff to consult with FWP and legal counsel, and several members suggested public outreach and a specialist presentation (for example, inviting Dan McHugh or a wildlife biologist) before proposing specific local penalties.
