2021-06-16

‘Everybody’s got to eat’

by KEITH CORCORAN

  • <p>KEITH CORCORAN, PHOTO</p><p>Residents in Mahone Bay will not get fined for feeding wildlife, like this deer spotted outside town limits, now that civic politicians defeated final reading of a proposed ban.</p>

Mahone Bay voted down a proposed wildlife feeding ban, meaning residents will not face fines for nourishing the likes of Donald, Rocky and Bambi within town limits.

Just before council defeated final reading of the proposed wildlife feeding bylaw, the town's mayor, David Devenne, cited comments from a former councillor whose professional background is as a wildlife biologist.

"The deer and the raccoons have been here a long time and they are going to keep on feeding here whether you give them a bylaw or not," Devenne explained during a June 8 council meeting.

"Everybody's got to eat."

Town council unanimously voted down the draft bylaw, first introduced in early May when it passed first reading. Mahone Bay moved on a potential prohibition of feeding of non-domesticated animals after the local garden club complained earlier this year about deer feasting perennial planting.

Pleasant Street resident, Lara Carrigan, offered the latest public comment about the proposed legislation, calling it "too broad" and suggested policing the bylaw could be costly and take time away from other matters that may be more important.

"I would be inclined to support a bylaw if it were specific to feeding deer, but not one that pertains to birds and waterfowl," Carrigan said in written correspondence. "Many of our residents take great pleasure from feeding wild birds on their properties and in the parks. This is a very simple pleasure and one that should not be restricted, as long as no harm is done to the birds."

Had the bylaw passed, someone found to be in violation would have faced a summary offence ticket of at least $50, and up to $1,000.

Backyard bird feeders would have been exempt, but the unit and seed debris would need to be removed if it "is determined to be the cause of a public safety threat or nuisance."

Wildlife is defined as "any animal that is not domesticated."

Council came to a consensus, believing a pivot toward a campaign informing the public about the risks associated with food sources and conditioning deer, raccoons and ducks, would be more effective than a bylaw.

Well-developed and presented arguments from the public were appreciated by Councillor Penny Carver, who sees an opportunity with educating citizens.

Ducks "as they swarm Main Street" are an accident waiting to happen, she said. "I don't like the idea of feeding wildlife; I don't think it's the right thing to do but I don't think this the time right now to introduce this bylaw."

Councillor Joseph Feeney, admittedly not a fan of the trash pandas, said the bylaw's original purpose "was well intended" but its pursuit is not in the best interest, although there are citizens negatively impacted by neighbours feeding wildlife.

Deer, as Councillor Richard Nowe pointed out, are "not going to worry about the bylaw, so, they're going to be there."

Establishing rules pertaining to feeding wildlife is not a new issue as other municipalities in the region have tried to come to terms with similar challenges.

The Town of Lunenburg, for example, passed a bylaw in 2017 prohibiting the feeding of wildlife. Anyone who commits an offence faces fines of at least $50 and up to $1,000.

Bridgewater last dealt with the issue in 2014 when a proposed bylaw died on the council table. Had the bill been passed, violators would have faced fines of at least $100 and up to $1,000. The issue gained some traction at the time after citizens raised concerns about incidents of intentional feeding of raccoons in a neighbourhood on the northwestern side of town.

Back in 2006, a Bridgewater resident called on the town to pass a bylaw banning people from feeding undomesticated birds, such as crows and pigeons, but that request didn't arouse much political interest.

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