[Adopted 8-14-2007 by Ord. No. O-16-2007]
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 Township of Mantua, so as to protect
public health, safety and welfare, and to prescribe penalties for
failure to comply.
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.
All animals that are neither human nor domesticated.
No person shall feed, in any public park or
on any other property owned or operated by the Township of Mantua
or other public body in the Township of Mantua, any wildlife, excluding
confined wildlife (for example, wildlife confined in zoos, parks or
rehabilitation centers, or unconfined wildlife at environmental education
centers).
This article shall be enforced by the Police
Department and/or the Code Enforcement Officer of the Township of
Mantua.
A.
Any person, entity or corporation who or which violates
any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable
by one or more of the following: imprisonment in the county jail or
any place provided by the municipality for the detention of prisoners
for a term up to but not exceeding 90 days or by a fine of not less
than $100 and not more than $2,000 or by a period of community service
up to but not exceeding 90 days, or any combination of the above.
B.
Each day that a violation exists, occurs or continues
shall constitute a separate offense for the purpose of imposing the
penalties referred to above.
C.
Any person found to be in violation of this article
shall be ordered to cease the feeding immediately.
