Village Bans Feeding Wild Animals

The Northbrook Village Board approved an ordinance to ban ground feeding of wild animals, including birds, on Tuesday.

The ordinance, which added a new paragraph to an existing one banning the harboring and ownership of “dangerous” or “vicious” wild animals, passed 4-2, but not without its detractors, according to the Northbrook Star.

“It shall be unlawful for any person to place table scraps, seed or other food out-of-doors in any residential zoning district of the village, outside of appropriate waste containers and in such a manner as to harbor or attract wild animals, including without limitation, raccoons, coyotes, skunks, deer, possums, foxes, or squirrels, and thereby cause such wild animals to become habituated to humans,” the ordinance states.

Related on Patch: Debate Ensues Regarding Feeding Wild Animals

Trustee James Karagianis was among the two to dissent.

“You can go out and smoke a joint, if you say you’re sick, but by God, you better not throw out your food scraps,” he said ironically.

Bob Israel was among the ones to vote with the majority, arguing that feeding the wildlife alters the balance of nature.

Wildlife “are supposed to be seekers for themselves and care for themselves,” he said.

The new law will take effect on July 25.

more via the Northbrook Star