Catalina del Sol

 

Published: 09.21.2006

Feed Wile E. Coyote, risk a fine

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Wildlife affected by the new law Prohibited l  Mountain lions l  Deer l  Javelina l  Bobcats l  Rabbits l  Foxes l  Coyotes l  Ground and rock squirrels l  Raccoons l  Skunks Allowed: l  Birds l Tree squirrels Penalty: $300 fine How the prohibition applies: ● The law exempts the feeding of birds and tree squirrels as well as normal livestock or agricultural operations. ● The law describes violators as those who feed or attract wildlife, intentionally, knowingly or recklessly. This means that people who leave food outdoors for their pets could be in violation of the law.

A new law prohibiting the intentional feeding of wildlife goes into effect today and running afoul of the measurecould result in a $300 fine.

The purpose of the law, which was sponsored by state Sen. Toni Hellon of Tucson, is to prevent attacks by wild animals on people and their pets.

"Many people think feeding wildlife is a helpful thing to do, and they enjoy seeing rabbits or deer spending time around their homes," said Elissa Ostergaard, urban-wildlife specialist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Tucson office, in a news release. "What also happens is that those animals attract larger, predatory animals to the neighborhoods. That's when you have coyotes, javelina and other animals that can become a danger to people and harm their pets."

In 2004, wildlife feeding resulted in several encounters between humans and mountain lions in Sabino Canyon and near an elementary school in the Tucson area, the release said. In Maricopa County, where the law will also be applied, eight children have been attacked by coyotes. More recently, a javelina bit humans who were hand-feeding the animals in the Phoenix area.

"We do not intend to use this law unless someone is obviously creating a problem in a neighborhood that could affect other people, and he or she has already been warned," said Mike Senn, head of the Arizona Game and Fish Department's field operations division. "We prefer to educate people first, and this is a last-resort option."

?— Alexis Huicochea

Wildlife affected by the new law Prohibited

l  Mountain lions

l  Deer

l  Javelina

l  Bobcats

l  Rabbits

l  Foxes

l  Coyotes

l  Ground and rock squirrels

l  Raccoons

l  Skunks

Allowed:

l  Birds

l Tree squirrels

Penalty:

$300 fine

How the prohibition applies:

● The law exempts the feeding of birds and tree squirrels as well as normal livestock or agricultural operations.

● The law describes violators as those who feed or attract wildlife, intentionally, knowingly or recklessly. This means that people who leave food outdoors for their pets could be in violation of the law.