Sec. 4-13. - Keeping or feeding wild animals; destruction of escaped wild animals.

(a)

No wild animal may be kept within the city limits, except under such conditions as shall be fixed by the animal control officer; provided, however, that wild animals may be kept for exhibition purposes by circuses, zoos, and educational institutions, in accordance with such regulations as shall be established by the animal control officer. Any wild animal which escapes and is found at large may be destroyed by the animal control officer or any police officer of this city.

(b)

The feeding of wild coyotes within city limits is prohibited and punishable utilizing provisions of section 1-4 in the Code of Ordinances.

(c)

Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall cause or allow to be left or stored outside of an occupied dwelling any refuse, garbage, food product, pet food, forage product or supplement, salt, seed or birdseed, fruit, grain in a manner that would constitute an attractant to any wild animal.

(d)

Notwithstanding the above, feeding of squirrels and birds of the order Passeriformes (i.e. "perching birds" including, but not limited to, songbirds) but not including carnivorous birds or waterfowl shall be permitted exclusively from elevated bird/squirrel feeders providing seed, grain, fruit, worms or suet for birds or squirrels located within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling during such times and in such quantities that: (1) Such feeding does not create an unreasonable disturbance or nuisance that affects the rights of surrounding property owners; or, (2) Is not an attractant for rats, skunks, foxes, weasels, or coyotes. Feeding of birds of the family Trochilidae (i.e. hummingbirds) shall be permitted exclusively from elevated bird feeders providing food suitable for such birds.

(e)

Notwithstanding the above, feed that is deposited by natural vegetation or found solely as a result of normal agricultural or gardening practices is not a violation of this section.

(f)

Any person violating any provision of subsection (c) of section 4-13 shall be subject to a warning only for a first violation within a one-year period. A second violation within a one-year period shall be punishable by a fine of up to $250.00. Third and subsequent violations within a one-year period shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00. Any such violation shall be considered a civil offense as opposed to a criminal offense.

(Code 1971, § 3-13; Ord. No. O-09-33, § I, 12-20-09; Ord. No. O-19-1, § I, 3-21-19)