[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Ellicott 1-8-2024. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The Town of Ellicott Council hereby finds and determines the Town of Ellicott strives to protect both its wildlife and the interests of its residents. The Town of Ellicott Council also finds and determines that the feeding of wild animals is disruptive to the natural feeding habits and digestive health of those animals. The Town of Ellicott Council finds that the feeding of wild animals creates a dependency on human interaction for sustenance, making them more likely to gather in large numbers and exhibit aggressive behavior. The Town of Ellicott Council determines that over a period of time wild animals which are fed by people tend to become both a public and private nuisance and present a public health concern for the neighborhoods affected. The Town of Ellicott Council further determines that the population of wildlife increases in areas where they are intentionally fed, which creates an unsafe environment for both the wild animals and residents. The Town of Ellicott Council also finds that it is in the best interest of both the wild animals and the residents of the Town of Ellicott to prohibit the feeding of wildlife.
B. 
Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to prohibit the feeding of wild animals in the Town of Ellicott.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FEED
To give, place, expose, deposit, distribute or scatter any edible material with the intention of feeding, attracting or enticing wildlife. Feeding does not include baiting in the legal taking of fish and/or game.
NUISANCE BIRDS
Any bird species that may have harmful environmental, economic, or public health impact, such as gulls, pigeons, and/or Canada geese.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
STRAY ANIMAL
Includes any dog or cat that is not licensed to a Town of Ellicott resident pursuant to the Town Code, and kept and maintained on the resident's property.
WILD ANIMALS
Any animal, which is not normally domesticated in this state, including but not limited to bears, coyotes, deer, feral cats, foxes, groundhogs, opossums, raccoons, skunks, any domesticated unlicensed animal, including but not limited to stray cats and dogs and nuisance birds other than song birds or humming birds.
WILDLIFE
All animals that are neither human nor domesticated and shall include but not be limited to nuisance birds, waterfowl, raccoons, skunks or groundhogs.
A. 
No person shall purposely or knowingly place food intended or suitable for consumption by wildlife or stray animals on any property, public or private, in the Town of Ellicott.
B. 
No person shall purposely or knowingly leave or store any refuse, garbage, food product, pet food, forage product or supplement, salt, seed or birdseed, fruit, or grain in a manner that would attract wild animals in the Town of Ellicott.
C. 
After an initial contact or conflict with a wild animal, no person shall continue to provide, or otherwise fail to secure or remove, any likely food source or attractants to wild animals.
D. 
This prohibition shall not be applied to enclosed, elevated bird feeders.
The following individuals and organizations are permitted to feed wild animals:
A. 
Veterinarians or other trained professionals who are rehabilitating an injured or otherwise incapacitated wild animal; and
B. 
Certified wildlife foundations or other nonprofit organizations which focus efforts on rehabilitating injured or otherwise incapacitated wild animals.
C. 
Any agent of Chautauqua County or New York State authorized to implement an alternative control method set forth in any approved wild animal management plan.
A. 
Feeding of wild birds, except nuisance birds and waterfowl, shall be permitted outdoors, at such times and upon such conditions that the such feeding:
(1) 
Does not create an unreasonable disturbance that affects the rights of surrounding property owners and/or renders other persons insecure in the use of their property. Excessive dropping accumulation or the attraction of rodents may be considered an unreasonable disturbance on surrounding property owners.
(2) 
Does not create an accumulation of droppings on the property of surrounding properties.
(3) 
Does not become an attractant for rodents and/or other wild animals.
B. 
Each property owner shall be permitted to have one bird feeder for every 7,500 square feet of lot area, not closer than five feet from any property line.
(1) 
Bird feeder.
(a) 
A bird feeder shall be either:
[1] 
A tube or cylinder.
[2] 
A hopper-type feeder, which shall be fully enclosed on all sides with an opening of no more than 1/2 inch in size.
(b) 
Bird feeders shall be suspended or mounted not less than four feet and no more than eight feet from the ground. Bird feeders shall be filled with no more than two gallons of feed at any time.
(2) 
Suet. Suet, is a formulation of animal fat and other ingredients in cake or brick form. Suet shall be placed in either mesh bag, or wire cage and suspended or mounted no less than four feet and no more than eight feet from the ground.
(3) 
No bird seed or any form of bird food shall be thrown or scattered on the ground of any property. No suet shall be smeared on any tree.
A. 
This chapter shall be enforced by the Town of Ellicott Police Department and/or the Town of Ellicott Code Enforcement Officer.
B. 
Enforcement shall be on a complaint basis.
C. 
Any person found to be in violation of this chapter shall be ordered to cease the feeding immediately.
A. 
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be liable for a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $500 for each offense, together with the costs of prosecution.
B. 
Each separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day or part of the day during which a violation occurs or continues.
C. 
No fine shall be implemented unless the alleged violator has received notice and has been given the opportunity to be heard. Notice shall be served upon the alleged violator, either personally or by certified mail, and shall contain a concise statement of the facts constituting the alleged violation or violations, as well as setting forth the date, time and place the hearing will be held.