Councilman pulls feeding ordinance

A Huntington Beach City Councilman withdrew a proposal outlawing residents from feeding wild animals Monday.

Councilman Joe Carchio proposed drafting an ordinance banning residents from feeding coyotes, foxes, opossums, raccoons or skunks and making it a misdemeanor offense. However, Carchio said he received negative feedback from residents and didn’t think he would have the support of his council members on the proposal.

“I tried and I did what I thought was going to be a good deed . . . but I’m going to withdraw the item,” he said.

The ordinance wasn’t meant to ticket people, but to educate them about the dangers of feeding wild animals to both humans and animals, Carchio said. Feeding the animals keeps them coming back to the neighborhoods, domesticating them and making them unable to survive in the wild, he said. Carchio was also worried about the diseases the animals bring with them.

“I guess no good deed goes unpunished,” Carchio said.

The city has been having issues with coyotes that have lost their fear of people, and the police department declared it a public safety issue. Residents have made complaints about coyotes coming into their backyards to eat their pets and are worried about their families’ safety.

Despite withdrawing the proposal, Carchio said he could bring it back at a later date with modifications. The original ordinance wouldn’t have extended to feeding birds or ducks, but he would change the wording from nondomesticated animals to nondomesticated mammals. Carchio said he would also change it from a misdemeanor to an infraction.

The city held a council study session in February and a community meeting in March on the issue. The state Department of Fish and Game and Orange County Animal Control joined city officials to tackle the issue.

Fish and Game officials told residents to cut off their food and water sources. Officials recommended residents never leave food outside, including pet food and bird seed; secure garbage containers; trim shrubbery; keep pets indoors; and walk dogs on leashes no longer than six feet.