Photo by: New Gila County Ordinance Prohibits Wildlife Feeding.
Contributed article/courtesy: Carol Broeder
Gila County – It has been a matter of human welfare and public safety for quite some time. “
Jarrod McFerrin, Wildlife Manager Field Supervisor for Arizona Game and Fish, explains the intentional feeding of wildlife in the Pine Strawberry region.
In fact, such an issue is that at a February 7 meeting, the Gila County Supervisory Board unanimously approved an ordinance designed to regulate wildlife feeding across the county.
At last year’s Board of Oversight meeting, concerned residents said there has been an increase in human-wildlife interaction in northern Gila County. Their comments were consistent with data collected by the state’s Game and Fish, according to Gila County Health and Emergency Management Officer Josh Beck.
Together, Gila County Animal Care and Control and Arizona Game and Fish thoroughly researched and discussed residents’ concerns. During a working session on October 25, 2022, staff presented the draft Wildlife Feeding Ordinance to the Oversight Board, which endorsed it moving forward.
“We have supported Gila County’s decision to move forward with this ordinance,” explains McFarlin. “As the state wildlife service, working with the county, we were able to provide some suggestions, language and data points.”
The new ordinance is obsolete and replaces the county’s “Bear Ordinance” since 2001, said program manager John Castaneda at the county’s animal care and management.
Prior to that, bears were causing problems in Pine’s portal area. “Residents were feeding and watering the bears, and they thought it was helping them,” he explains. But in doing so, many other animals came, including foxes, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, bobcats, and others, getting free food and water, and causing problems for several other animals. .
“The livestock that were attacked by these wild animals ended up in a rabies exposure quarantine for 180 days, which was a huge cost to the dog owner,” says Castaneda. “Some of these wild animals had to be confined and moved to other remote areas of Gila County.”
“Bears are opportunistic and can quickly become accustomed to food sources by deliberately feeding them or inadvertently luring them to litter etc.” He added that the ordinance clearly addressed similar public concerns.
The main difference between the Bear Ordinance and the Wildlife Feeding Ordinance is that it covers all wildlife, not just bears.
The new ordinance “covers feeding all wildlife, with the exception of feeding birds from bird feeders and feeding livestock by ranchers,” Castaneda explained. To do. “Both have the same purpose of keeping wildlife routines natural.”
Gila County’s Wildlife Feeding Ordinance mirrors existing state law to some extent, but “considered the public’s desire not to interfere with the manipulation of livestock, the reproduction of fruit trees and gardens, and decorative water structures. explains McFarlin.
Wild animals, accustomed to food and humans, have lost their natural fear of humans and have caused serious injuries to humans and pets.
Twenty years ago, feeding bears in the Portal region of Pine caused so many problems that the Bear Ordinance was enacted.
“People were getting bills from bears,” says Castaneda, who worked privately one summer with eight complaints.
“Now moose are doing the same thing. Some residents have been charged by moose and some have been hospitalized,” he explains. “In several instances, moose have charged some children playing on the playground. These young children may have been severely injured.”
McFerrin points out that feeding wildlife is not only a public safety issue, but it also harms wildlife.
“Each year, in this state and other states, authorities have to exterminate wildlife that has attacked humans or displayed unacceptably aggressive behavior,” he says.
McFarlin believes the oversight board has recognized the need to listen to the public and do what is in the best interests of wildlife as well as citizens.
Gila County residents should be aware that the new ordinance applies to the entire county. Because wildlife is almost everywhere.
“We continue to blame moose, but there have been deer attacks on pets in Gila County, javelina attacks, and coyote attacks, all linked to food attractants,” McFarlin explains. “All of these species also live in southern Gila County.”
Game and Fish is currently working with Gila County to determine how best to implement the new ordinance. However, animal control officers, sheriff’s deputies, or police officers have the authority to do so, including issuing warnings and subpoenas, he says.
“Of course we all need to work together,” he says.
“One of the most important aspects of enforcement is the educational component to ensure that the citizens of Gila County are aware of the new ordinance and why it is so important for people and wildlife.” says McFarlin.
As Castaneda explains: Mail out information; go door to door to provide information and use social media to spread this information. “
“Our overall goal is always voluntary compliance, and mandatory action is always a last resort,” explains McFarlin.
Part of educating the public includes debunking some misconceptions.
McFarlin said there is concern that residents of Gila County will not be able to see wildlife once the new ordinance goes into effect.
“That’s just not true. We live in their world here in Rim Country,” says McFarlin, the perfect place for good-natured citizens to support themselves without “helping them.” We call it habitat.
Castaneda adds: Our winters are not as severe as elsewhere in the country. “
“When it snows, it can be snowless in a few days and the elk can migrate,” he explains.
“There are a lot of feed and water sources outside our community that have been here much longer than we have, and will continue to be,” says McFarlin. “Leave wildlife in the wild and enjoy it from a distance. Do not feed or attract wildlife.
