Greenwich Seeks To Stop Residents From Intentionally Feeding Wildlife

GREENWICH, CT — Town officials are seeking to tighten a local ordinance to prevent residents from intentionally feeding wildlife.

Parks & Recreation Director Joe Siciliano and Environmental Affairs Director Beth Evans appeared before the Board of Selectmen on Thursday to request an amendment to Sec. 7-24 - Fish and Wildlife.

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The amendment would add a paragraph stating: No person shall intentionally offer or attempt to feed any fish or wildlife in parks, open space, and other Town properties managed under the inventory of the Parks Department unless authorized by the Director.

Documents submitted to the selectmen state that intentional feeding is when an animal gains access to food because of direct human interaction.

"This type of feeding might include leaving food out for an animal or encouraging an animal to eat out of your hand," the documents note.

Unintentional feeding of wildlife means using or placing any material for a purpose other than to intentionally attract, entice, or feed wildlife but which results in unintentionally attracting, enticing, or feeding of wildlife.

Composting that was properly secured but unintentionally led to the feeding of wildlife, is excluded, the documents say.

Additionally, bird feeders may be used from Dec. 1 through March 31. If the food is recognized as not desirable to bears, such as, but not limited to, nyjer or thistle, bird feeders may be used year-round.

Siciliano said residents have been feeding wildlife in several places around town, including in Byram Park, Grass Island and Greenwich Point.

"We have had some issues at Greenwich Point where people just bring food, bread, and other materials into the park and leave them for animals," Siciliano said, noting the proposed amendment is a "language cleanup."

"We need to tighten up this ordinance a bit and make it enforceable, because we want the wildlife to live in their natural habitat, to exist in their own habitat, and if they can't exist there, they'll go somewhere else, and the population will move to a place where they can," Siciliano added.

Evans said that wildlife stops being "wild" when they're intentionally fed by humans.

"People feeding [animals] gets them used to people; it reduces their fear of people, and it becomes a dangerous situation," she said. "I heard about a case in Binney [Park] where a person had a small toddler, and they were feeding hot dogs to the snapping turtle. I don't think any of us have to imagine very hard to see how that could have gone terribly wrong."

Feeding deer, turtles, ducks and geese can disrupt their natural diets and biological processes, contribute to overcrowding and territorial aggression, pollute waterways and increase the spread of disease and risk of injury, according to documents submitted to the selectmen. Nutrient-dense food can harm deer during colder months, while winter feeding can delay brumation in some turtle species.

"When the ducks decide they want more bread than you have, especially swans, swans can break your arm," Evans told the selectmen.

First Selectman Fred Camillo called the proposed amendment "timely," and said there have been "frequent fliers" who go to Greenwich Point and feed deer.

"This will be very helpful," Camillo said.

"It's one thing to tell people that they're being silly, but it's another thing to tell them they're breaking the law. This will help," Evans agreed.

Violations of Parks & Rec. ordinances are subject to fines.

The selectmen did not vote on the proposal and are expected to revisit it in two weeks, allowing time for public feedback.