The purpose of this article is to prohibit the feeding of unconfined wildlife in any public park or on any other property owned or operated by the Borough of Eatontown, so as to protect public health, safety and welfare, and to prescribe penalties for failure to comply.
[Adopted 12-14-2005 by Ord. No. 25-2005]
[Amended 9-25-2025 by Ord. No. 16-2025]
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.
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.
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
Any bird that frequents the water, or lives about rivers, lakes, etc.; aquatic fowl including not limited to ducks, geese, swans, herons, and egrets.
Any animal, which is not human or domesticated, including but not limited to bears, coyotes, deer, feral cats, foxes, groundhogs, opossums, raccoons, skunks, waterfowl, wolves, and hybrid wolves.
[Amended 9-25-2025 by Ord. No. 16-2025]
A.
Feeding of wild animals birds and waterfowl prohibited.
(1)
No person shall feed, bait or in any manner provide access to food to any wild animal, birds, or waterfowl in the Borough of Eatontown, on lands either publicly or privately owned, except as permitted by Subsection B below. This section shall not apply to the feeding of farm animals, nor to confined wildlife (for example, wildlife confined in stables, parks, or rehabilitation centers, nor unconfined wildlife at environmental education centers).
(2)
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 constitute an attractant to any wild animal or waterfowl.
(3)
After being advised by the Borough to undertake remedial action to avoid contact or conflict with wild animals, no person shall continue to provide, or otherwise fail to secure or remove, any likely food sources or attractants, including, but not limited to, outdoor trash, grills, pet food, bird feeders or any other similar food source or attractant.
B.
Feeding of birds permitted. Feeding of birds shall be permitted outdoors at such times and in such numbers that:
(1)
Such feeding does not create an unreasonable disturbance that affects the rights of surrounding property owners and renders other persons insecure in the use of their property;
(2)
Does not create an accumulation of droppings on the property and surrounding properties; and
(3)
Does not become an attractant for rodents or other wild animals.
[Amended 9-25-2025 by Ord. No. 16-2025]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not exceeding $2,000, a term of imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or any combination thereof.