[Adopted 7-12-2001 by Ord. No. 10-2001]
It is the intent of this article to protect
the health, safety and welfare of the community and wildlife animals
and wild waterfowl within the Township of Hanover by prohibiting the
feeding of wildlife animals and wild waterfowl on all Township-owned
public property, including its parks and recreational facilities.
The feeding of wildlife animals and wild waterfowl within the Township
can contribute to rat and other predatory animal infestation problems,
damage to public parks and public forested areas, water quality problems,
traffic hazards, soiled and contaminated private yards and swimming
pools and the increased potential for the spread of disease to residents.
In addition, it is the intent of this article to protect the welfare
of wildlife animals and wild waterfowl themselves since wildlife studies
have shown that the feeding of wildlife animals and wildlife waterfowl
can cause nutritional problems, increase predation and promote the
spread of serious diseases such as the lime tick in the case of deer
and avian cholera, plague and botulism in the case of wild waterfowl.
The feeding of wild waterfowl can also interrupt their normal migration
patterns, thus making them permanent residents.
No person shall feed or provide food for any
wildlife animal and/or any wild waterfowl at anytime during the year
within the Township of Hanover on any Township-owned public property,
including but not limited to its parks and recreational facilities,
forested land, vacant land or in and around any Township-owned public
building.
[Added 2-24-2005 by Ord. No. 6-2005]
No person shall purposely or knowingly, as said
terms are defined in Title 2C of the New Jersey Revised Statutes,
feed wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in said Township
on lands either publicly or privately owned. It shall be presumed
that the person is purposely or knowingly feeding deer unless the
feed is placed on a platform that is raised at least four feet off
the ground and has a lip around the edge of the platform, is placed
on a platform that is raised at least five feet off the ground, or
is placed in a feeder whose opening is sufficiently restricted so
as to prevent deer from accessing the feed. Nothing in this section
shall apply to any agent of the Township authorized to implement an
alternative control method set forth in any approved community based
deer management plan, and possessing a special deer management permit
issued by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, in accordance
with the provisions of P.L. 2000, c. 46, or any hunter engaging in
baiting for the purpose of hunting pursuant to a valid hunting license
issued in accordance with the provisions of Title 23 of the New Jersey
Revised Statutes.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
To place, deposit, scatter or distribute on any Township-owned
public property any type of feed, including but not limited to corn,
wheat or other grains, bread, cake products, apples, popcorn, scraps
or any other food substances liable to be eaten by wildlife animals
and wild waterfowl.
Nondomesticated animals such as deer, wild turkey, raccoon,
bear, possums and groundhogs.
Nondomesticated waterfowl, whether migratory or not, including
but not limited to Canada geese, mallard ducks, swans, brant and sea
gulls.
This article shall not be construed to prohibit
humane acts toward wild waterfowl in individual cases, such as the
temporary nurturing of a wounded bird on a person's private property.
In addition, nothing contained in this article shall prohibit persons
from feeding by throwing or scattering small quantities of food directly
to birds or certain small wildlife animals such as squirrels and chipmunks
or prohibit persons from feeding certain wildlife animals and birds
on their private property by leaving food for such animals in a manner
commonly or ordinarily used for the feeding of these wildlife animals
and birds such as bird feeders or other receptacles.
The provisions of this article shall be administered
and enforced by members of the Hanover Township Police Department.
Any person, firm or corporation convicted of
violating the provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine
not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment up to 90 days, or both. Each
and every day such a violation occurs shall be deemed a separate and
distinct violation.
