We, the undersigned residents of the City of Durham, hereby present this petition to address an important matter that will adversely affect our communities.

The proposed Wildlife Feeding Ban criminalizes not only feeding wildlife, but also any device or food source that may attract wildlife, even if no wild animal is actually fed. The ban will severely restrict private property use where no wildlife threat exists.

CONCERNS

• The Wildlife Feeding Ban is an unnecessary regulation. There is no recorded history of complaints about wildlife. There is no widespread health and safety risk.
• Taming wild animals and attracting them into residential areas is undesirable. However, the ban will regulate recreational and humane activities that do not contribute to this problem. These include:
  • Bird feeders
  • Feeding a stray or found cat or dog
  • Feeding feral cat colonies for trap/neuter/release
  • Feeding wildlife that does not create a nuisance or health/safety risk
• The proposed ordinance is overly broad. Any food source that may attract a wild animal (an "attractant"), even if it does not, may be punished with escalating fines.
• Enforcement will be difficult and will divert our scarce police resources from serious crime response and prevention.

ALTERNATIVES

The City Council should consider proven alternatives to treating wildlife as merely a nuisance. A native planting ordinance, and an educational campaign and resources to create backyard habitats for birds and wildlife would be more productive and sustainable.

Enclosed with this petition are signatures, representing the objections of residents to the Wildlife Feeding Ban

Sincerely,

Kaya Manson