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Date: 10/24/2018
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Mayor William Reichelt is doubling down on his efforts to place regulations on wildlife feeding after a bear was euthanized in West Springfield.
On the morning of Oct. 14, the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) were notified a black bear had broken into a storage area in a residential neighborhood. Because the same male bear had been previously “relocated,” following a similar encounter, the MEP determined the bear had become habituated and had to be euthanized.
“The bear had been in this area before. They [the MEP] had already relocated it – it seems like it’s a ‘three-strikes-you’re-out’ situation,” said Reichelt. “The bear was so used to humans, so I guess the Environmental Police made the call that they were going to euthanize it.”
With black bear populations on the rise in Western Massachusetts, the mayor proposed an ordinance back in June to prevent this scenario from happening. Although the Ordinance and Policy Committee is still reviewing his proposal, Reichelt seeks to prohibit the feeding of wild animals and regulate the feeding of songbirds on private property.
His proposal cites the risks and cons – for both humans and animals – that come with feeding wild animals, including the transmission of disease from animals to humans and pets; domestic animal versus wildlife conflicts/injuries; wildlife losing its natural fear of people; increased damage to homes, vehicles and property; and explosion in wildlife populations.
“There are currently no laws that address this, and that’s the trouble,” said Reichelt. “We don’t really have a tool to fine people [for feeding wildlife], which is what generally has them conform their behaviors to what we want. We don’t have that tool anywhere for this scenario, so we’re stuck with, ‘hey, this isn’t a good idea, we wish you would comply.’”
Some of the highlights from Section 1 of the ordinance, which regulates the feeding of wildlife or wild animals, include:
• No person shall feed, bait, or in any manner provide access to food to any wild animal and/or wildlife within Town of West Springfield on lands either publicly or privately owned, except as permitted by subsection 2 of This Section.
• No person shall 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 and or wildlife, except as permitted by subsection 2 of this Section.
• 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 other similar food source or attractant after being advised by the Town 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.
Section 2 of the ordinance hones in on birdfeeders and the feeding of songbirds. Its highlights include:
• Birds shall only be fed from bird feeders. Birdfeeders shall be installed at least five feet above the ground. Birdfeeders shall not be installed or attached to fences in any manner
• The scattering or placement of food, seed, grain, or any other type of attractant on the ground shall not be permitted.
• Feeding shall not create an unreasonable disturbance or public nuisance that affects the rights of surrounding property owners or residents
• Feeding shall not create an accumulation of droppings on the property or surrounding properties
• Feeding shall not become an attractant for rodents or other wild animals
According to Dave Wattles, black bear and furbearer biologist for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, birdfeeders are the number one attraction for bears in residential areas.
“People who have birdfeeders have the misconception that they are feeding birds, but in reality, they are putting out a ‘wildlife’ feeder. They are essentially putting food on their property that is free for wild animals to take advantage of,” he previously told Reminder Publishing. “No question, bears will take advantage of the easy meal feeders provide.”
Bears are considered omnivores, meaning they eat both vegetation and meat; however, they are susceptible to becoming accustomed to human-associated foods, according to Mass.gov. They will enter residential areas seeking birdfeeders, orchards, beehives and unsecured trash. Since bears have “excellent” long-term memory, and can remember the location of food sources years after their first visit, they are more likely to cause damage and become a nuisance once habituated on human-associated foods.
Removal of food sources and other attractants is key to preventing problems with bears, said Wattles.
Although Reichelt’s ordinance is still in committee, he said he hopes the Town Council will now prioritize the issue.
“Some council members are concerned about government overreach, but no one has spoken out against it. There have been countless people that have asked what the hang-up is,” said the mayor. “I think what just happened is a situation the ordinance is trying to prevent. Going forward, this scenario is what the ordinance is looking to stop from happening – essentially preventing the bears from feeling comfortable around humans because they know there’s food there.”
For more information on bears and safety tips, go to https://www.mass.gov/black-bears-in-massachusetts.