[Adopted 10-27-2005 by Ord. No. 13-2005 (Ch. 177, Art. II, of the 1990 Code); amended in its entirety 12-2-2015 by Ord. No.
15-2015]
It has been well established that the feeding of wild animals
and waterfowl is both detrimental to the animals and causes a public
health nuisance and safety hazard that is detrimental to the health
and general welfare of the public.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
To give, place, expose, deposit, distribute or scatter any
edible materials with the intention of feeding, attracting or enticing
wildlife. Feeding does not include baiting in the legal taking of
fish.
Includes any animal which is not domesticated in this state,
including, but not limited to bears, coyotes, deer, feral cats, foxes,
groundhogs, squirrels, opossums, raccoons, skunks, wild turkeys, and
waterfowl.
A.
No person shall purposely or knowingly, as said terms are defined
in Title 2C of the New Jersey Revised Statutes, feed, bait, or in
any manner provide access to food to any wild animal in the Borough
of North Haledon on lands either publicly or privately owned.
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 constitute
an attractant to any wild animal.
C.
No person shall fail to take remedial action to avoid contact or
conflict with wild animals, which may include the securing or removal
of outdoor trash, cooking grills, pet food, bird feeders or any similar
food source or attractant, after being advised by the Borough to undertake
such remedial action. Further, 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 sources or attractants,
including but not limited to outdoor trash, grills, pet food or bird
feeders.
Feeding of songbirds and other backyard birds shall be permitted
outdoors at such times and in such numbers that:
A.
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.
B.
Does not create an accumulation of droppings on the property and
surrounding properties.
C.
Does not become an attractant for rodents or other wild animals.
D.
Bird feeders are placed at least four feet above the ground.
A.
Each property owner shall have the duty to remove any above-named
materials or device placed on the owner's property in violation of
this article.
B.
Failure to remove such materials or device or to make such modifications
within 24 hours after notice of violation from the Borough shall constitute
a separate violation of this article.
C.
North Haledon Health Department personnel, the Property Maintenance
Officer, and North Haledon Police Department personnel are hereby
given full power and authority to enforce this article.
Any person who is found to be in violation of the provisions of this article shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, General Penalty, as follows: a fine of not less than $100 and not exceeding $2,000, imprisonment for a period not exceeding 90 days, a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or a combination thereof.
