<\/img>Feeding the birds is fine. But it might soon be illegal to feed coyotes, foxes, opossums, raccoons or skunks in Huntington Beach.<\/p>\n
The city is considering the ban after a string of coyote sightings in Surf City. Under the proposal, to be considered next week, those persons who violate the rules could face fines.<\/p>\n
The
\ncity has been having issues with coyotes that have lost their fear of
\npeople, and the police department declared it a public safety issue.
\nResidents have made complaints about coyotes coming into their
\nbackyards to eat their pets and are worried about their families\u2019
\nsafety.
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Councilman Joe Carchio proposed adding the ordinance to
\nhelp stop the problem by educating residents after attending two city
\nmeetings on the idea. The idea isn\u2019t necessarily to ticket offenders or
\nbecome a \u201cnanny government,\u201d but to inform people about the harm
\nfeeding wild animals causes, Carchio told the Huntington Beach Independent.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t do this
\nbecause we wanted to issue summons or tickets or anything like that,\u201d
\nhe said. \u201cIt\u2019s more to make people aware.\u201d
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The ordinance wouldn\u2019t extend to feeding birds in a backyard or ducks at the pond, he said.<\/p>\n