• The feeding of wildlife is extremely disruptive to the natural feeding habits of wildlife; while people enjoy handing out food, the action is detrimental to the animals.
  
  
• The intentional feeding of wildlife not only attracts predators, feeding wildlife can result in wildlife being concentrated at artificial feeding areas, making them more susceptible to disease transmission.
  
  
• Feeding wildlife puts it on a collision course with humans. Deer (and other animals) who approach humans and eat from their hands are not tame; they are bold. Deer have razor-sharp hooves and antlers, and can severely injure or kill a human with a strike.
  
  
• Animals used to being fed become habituated to human-provided food & alter their foraging behavior.
  
  
• Animals fed by humans are drawn into heavy traffic areas seeking handouts, and are killed by vehicles, or cause accidents killing humans.
  
  
• Pets can become involved in altercations with wildlife. Dogs especially can get into conflicts with possibly sick wildlife and become injured or diseased.
  
  

Morris Township Ordinance 14-04
Chapter 99
Prohibiting the Feeding of Wild Animals and Waterfowl

99 - 1 Purpose
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.

99 - 2 Definitions
As used in this ordinance, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

"Wild animal" shall include any animal, which is not normally domesticated in this state, including but not limited to bears, coyotes, deer, feral cats, foxes, groundhogs, opossums, raccoons, skunks, and waterfowl.

"Waterfowl" Any bird that frequents the water, or lives about rivers, lakes, etc., or on or near the sea; an aquatic fowl, including but not limited to ducks, geese, swans, heron, and egrets.

99 - 3 Feeding of Wild Animals and Waterfowl Prohibited.
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 or waterfowl in said township, on lands either publicly or privately owned. This section shall not apply to the feeding of farm animals.

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, grain in a manner that would constitute an attractant to any wild animal or waterfowl.

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 other similar food source or attractant after being advised by the Township 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.

D. Nothing in this section shall apply to (1) any agent of the township authorized to implement an alternative control method set forth in any approved community based deer management plan and possessing a special deer management permit issued by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife in accordance with the provisions of P.L. 2000, c.46, or (2) any hunter engaging in baiting for the purpose of hunting pursuant to a valid hunting license issued in accordance with the provisions of Title 23 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes.

99 - 4 Feeding of other songbirds and other backyard birds permitted
A. Feeding of other songbirds and other backyard birds shall be permitted outdoors at such times and in such numbers that: (1) 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 and; (2) Does not create an accumulation of droppings on the property and surrounding properties and; (3) Does not become an attractant for rodents or other wild animals and; (4) Bird feeders are placed at least five (5) feet above the ground.

99 - 5 Enforcement
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 Ordinance.

B. Failure to remove such materials or device or to make such modifications within twenty-four (24) hours after notice from the Township shall constitute a separate violation of this Ordinance.

C. Health Department personnel, Animal Control Officers and all Police Officers of the Township of Morris are hereby given full power and authority to enforce this ordinance.

D. No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this ordinance.

99 - 6 Penalties
Any person violating any provision of this Section shall be liable to a fine not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) or more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each offense, together with the costs of prosecution. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day or part of each day during which a violation occurs or continues.

99 - 7 Severability
Every section of this ordinance or subdivision or separate part thereof shall be considered a separate provision to the intent that if any portion shall be declared unconstitutional it shall not affect the remaining parts of this ordinance.

99 - 8 When Effective
This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon final passage thereof and publication thereof as provided for by law.