As a Thornton resident, I am writing with a deeply personal concern of squirrel feeding in our area. There is a neighbor of mine who consistently feeds the squirrels large amounts of nuts—despite my repeated appeals to stop, my pleas have been ignored twice. I reached out to animal control and was implausibly told that they can do nothing about the issue. I was told this is an ongoing problem, with not recourse currently available. 

The repercussions of this activity are distressingly significant: squirrels bury their food in my plants, gardens, and lawn, causing destruction to property. Worse still, they eat the nuts in my yard, leaving behind piles of shells that attract ants in swarms. This might seem trivial, but consider that my son has anaphylaxis to tree nuts. Additionally, my dogs are chewing on the shells and bring them into the house creating a dangerous situation.

Across the country, the feeding of wildlife including squirrels is often prohibited as it can lead to property damage, spread of diseases, and disturbance of natural diets. Currently, Thornton does not have such a restriction and it's time we address this growing nuisance. The damage, risk and concerns originating from unrestricted feeding of squirrels in Thornton cannot be ignored anymore.

By signing this petition, we are urging the city authorities to enact a ban on the feeding of squirrels in order to protect our properties, maintain the ecological balance, and safeguard our children and pets from potential harm. Please sign this petition to effect meaningful and necessary change!