Ban of feeding opossum, raccoons, coyotes considered in Huntington Beach

Feeding the birds is fine. But it might soon be illegal to feed coyotes, foxes, opossums, raccoons or skunks in Huntington Beach.

The city is considering the ban after a string of coyote sightings in Surf City. Under the proposal, to be considered next week, those persons who violate the rules could face fines.

The city has been having issues with coyotes that have lost their fear of people, and the police department declared it a public safety issue. Residents have made complaints about coyotes coming into their backyards to eat their pets and are worried about their families’ safety.

Councilman Joe Carchio proposed adding the ordinance to help stop the problem by educating residents after attending two city meetings on the idea. The idea isn’t necessarily to ticket offenders or become a “nanny government,” but to inform people about the harm feeding wild animals causes, Carchio told the Huntington Beach Independent.

“I didn’t do this because we wanted to issue summons or tickets or anything like that,” he said. “It’s more to make people aware.”

The ordinance wouldn’t extend to feeding birds in a backyard or ducks at the pond, he said.

Read the full story here.

-- Britney Barnes reporting for the Huntington Beach Independent

Photo: Huntington Beach is considering making it illegal to feed coyotes and other wild animals. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Ladyli1]

I think there should be a nation-wide ban with some kind of conscience for the offenders. I live in an apartment building above a restaurant and we have two elderly people who leave cat food around my building and under cars in the parking lot. They claim they are feeding the feral cats (which is another but equally important problem) but they're feeding the raccoons and skunks that live, breed and do wiring and structural damage not to mention that leaving ceramic, metal and hard plastic bowls under cars can and has done damage to people's tires! Those people have been told time and time again to stop by the restaurant/building owners, workers and us tenants but they refuse and we NEED some way to make them STOP!

[Ross S]

"The idea isn’t necessarily to ticket offenders or become a “nanny government,” but to inform people about the harm feeding wild animals causes, Carchio told the Huntington Beach Independent."
The easiest way not to become a nanny goverment, is to not become a nanny goverment. Don't waste the taxpayers dollars with the costs of drawing up regulations to further burden the police dept. It won't help the situation. Does anybody really think that there are people directly feeding these scavengers? Is the Congressman that out of touch? Moreover, additional companion laws will need to be enacted outlawing uncovered trash (which is where raccoons and opossum eat) and cracking down on stray cats and other small animals (coyotes food of choice are cats and other small animals) and other areas where scavenging is occurring.
So, how are the proposed laws going to help with this and at what expense? Get real!

[El Dabe Law Firm]

Is there a reason why the moderator does not let my comments up?? I have posted several relevant comments in the past few weeks and they are not posted. The only reason I can think of is that the moderator does not like the link to my website associate with my name.

Can anyone please respond?

[El Dabe Law Firm]

I posted something about relevant Joe Carchio a few days ago and it was never put it.