Wildlife better skip Coon Rapids for next meal

For Coon Rapids deer, wild turkeys and even raccoons, the dinner bell is about to go silent. Chickens, pygmy horses and potbelly pigs also had better look for lodging elsewhere.

Last week, the City Council voted 4-2 to approve an update to the city's non-domestic animal ordinance, making it illegal to feed wild animals, even on private property, or to keep critters that are too big, too messy or too dangerous living indoors. Council Members Scott Schulte and Melissa Larson voted against the measure, which goes into effect Oct. 9.

Residents can continue to feed songbirds, and there's a permit process for short-term boarding of nondangerous animals by zoo volunteers.

The new ordinance, City Attorney Stoney Hiljus said, puts the city in line with many of its neighbors.

The discussion started last month as a response to resident complaints about people feeding wild animals in public parks, and the increased animal population and mess that resulted, Hiljus said.

An ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife and waterfowl on city property, such as parks and trails, was adopted by the council on Sept. 7.

The discussion also put a spotlight on the city's non-domestic animal ordinance, which last was updated more than 20 years ago. The language was vague and did not reflect the development that has happened since, Hiljus said. Staffers also wanted to address queries from residents who want to keep bees and chickens and other animals.

"We knew that particular issue was important to the community, so we put it in there right from the start," Hiljus said, noting that the Coon Rapids High School mascot is a cardinal. "We see cardinals, songbirds, out here all the time."

At Tuesday's council meeting and during the public discussions that preceded it, much of the debate was about whether the city can regulate private properties.

Some residents had complained to council members that the corn troughs their neighbors kept out for the deer attracted too many of the animals, who trampled their landscaping. Also, the food attracted other, less desirable animals, such as raccoons and even skunks.

"Other animals don't understand it's just there for the deer," Hiljus said. "Other [proponents of the change] lobbied hard that wild animals are wild and attracting animals into your back yard has bigger effect than you enjoying the animals."

The city will rely on resident complaints to enforce the ordinance. Violators will face a misdemeanor charge. Hiljus said they'll likely go through the city's administrative penalty program and will be fined if they continue to flout the law.

"I firmly support almost every concept in the ordinance," he said, adding, however, that it's an example of the government getting too involved in private property rights. "Citizens that pay their taxes should have a little more control over their property than the government does. This just dug a little too deep into that."

Hiljus said he gets that.

"I certainly understand that balance between regulations for public safety and health versus a person's right to do what they want on their property," he said. "This is close to that line, and that's why it wasn't passed unanimously, and why it had as much discussion as it did. Living in Minnesota and liking wildlife, I understand that people want to see it up close. It's just not always a good idea in an urban setting."