COLORADO SPRINGS – Colorado wildlife officers spoke to the Colorado Springs City Council Monday night to voice their support for a new ordinance to prohibit people from feeding wildlife in the city.
Urban deer populations in the city are continuing to grow. This growth not only brings in predators and increases the chances of animal/vehicle collisions, but it also increases the risk for the spread of disease.
The animals also become more comfortable around humans and could cause them to become more aggressive.
“So, there’s already a state law that makes it illegal to feed big game animals, and this ordinance would also make it against city law to feed within city limits,” said Area Wildlife Manager, Frank Mcgee. “That would help because then the city has additional resources and then they could help us enforce that.”
Leaving out hay, grain, minerals, salt or other foods for wild animals to eat would be prohibited under the ordinance. The law, however, would not apply to bird feeders and landscape elements. City Code Enforcement would first give homeowners warnings and then ticket them for violations.
