Edwardsville new limits on animal feeding

Edwardsville takes aims at skunks with new limits on animal feeding
Belleville News-Democrat, Illinois - November 21, 2006

Edwardsville takes aims at skunks with new limits on animal feeding
BY JENNIFER KAPIOLANI SAXTON
News-Democrat
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville leaders hope to solve the city's skunk problem by changing an animal-related ordinance.

The measure, expected to go before the City Council on Tuesday for the first of two readings, would prohibit residents from feeding some wild animals.

The ordinance bans "unsecured food or generally consumable products that may intentionally or unintentionally entice any wild or nondomestic animals to enter such property and/or property of another when the presence of such animals is likely to cause a public nuisance."

Last summer, the Edwardsville Police Department trapped 75 skunks in neighborhoods after receiving complaints about them burrowing under houses or spraying in self defense. Edwardsville Police Lt. Scott Evers said the department usually has no more than 25 skunk calls a year.

"It's more of an education tool, but it gives us a mechanism to deal with people who refuse to help the situation," Evers said. "It's also give us a tool to try to get compliance."

Alderman Janet Haroian, chairman of the city's aldermanic Administrative and Community Services Committee, said she had received calls from residents about the skunk problem, but initially thought amending the ordinance was too much.

"In light of those complaints, this is the manner which best gives the city personnel a method to deal with complaints whereby investigation reveals that residents were inadvertently attracting the animals to their yards and those of their neighbors," Haroian said.

Alderman Wesley Tippit, another committee member, voted against moving the amended ordinance forward because of his concerns about the problems it may cause for residents with bird-feeders in their backyards. The food knocked out of the feeders can attract wild animals.

Regional Wildlife Biologist Deck Major with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said the small amount of food knocked out is not a major problem. It is food left out intentionally for wild animals that causes problems.

Also, a section was added to the ordinance exempting the feeding of feral, or stray cats, as requested by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The ASPCA suggested it not apply to feral cat caretakers who are participating "in a trap, neuter, return program."

If moved forward, the amended ordinance will go back to committee for further discussion and then brought back for final approval to the council in December.

Contact reporter Jennifer Kapiolani Saxton at jsaxton@bnd.com or 345-7822 ext. 23.


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related Feral Cat Blog! post:

Ordinance addresses food sources
18 Nov 2006