[Added 12-14-2005 by Ord. No. 2965]
[Amended 4-9-2025 by Ord. No. 4042]
The purpose of this article is to establish requirements to prohibit the feeding of unconfined wildlife in any public park or on any other private or public property in the Village of Ridgewood so as to protect public health, safety and welfare, and to prescribe penalties for the failure to comply. The feeding of such wildlife is both detrimental to the animals and causes a public health nuisance and safety hazard detrimental to the health and general welfare of the public. Of special concern to public health is the increasing spread of bird flu, the H5N1 virus, and that deer and rodents such as mice, and rats carry ticks that carry Lyme disease, a physically and neurologically debilitating disease. Feeding wildlife also increases the risk of exposure to rabies for humans and domestic pets by attracting potentially rabid wildlife.
For the purpose of this article, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein unless their use in the text of this article clearly demonstrates a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future; words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
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 the baiting in the legal taking of fish and/or game in accordance with applicable regulations.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
WILDLIFE
All animals that are neither human nor domesticated.
[Amended 4-9-2025 by Ord. No. 4042]
No person shall purposely or knowingly feed unconfined wildlife, including but not limited to birds, deer, wildfowl, racoons or any other animal not kept as a domestic pet in the Village of Ridgewood on lands either publicly or privately owned. It shall be presumed that a person is purposely or knowingly feeding wildlife unless the feed is placed in a birdfeeder that at its lowest point is at least six feet off the ground, including a food/seed catching device attached to collect food/seed and placed in a feeder whose opening is sufficiently restricted to prevent wildlife from accessing the feed. No more than three such feeders shall be permitted on any single property.
[Amended 4-9-2025 by Ord. No. 4042]
The provisions of this article shall be enforced by the Village of Ridgewood Police Department, Health Department, Building Department or any other officer or department of the Village so designated by the Village Manager.
[Amended 4-9-2025 by Ord. No. 4042]
Any person(s) who is found to be in violation of the provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 per violation. Chapter 105 of the Code of the Village of Ridgewood shall be modified by the addition of Article VIII by this article to establish a minimum fine of $50 and a maximum fine of $1,000 per violation.