Ridgewood puts restrictions on bird feeders to help keep deer away
The law states that bird feeders on public and private properties need to be more than 6 feet off the ground.
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A town in Bergen County is placing restrictions on bird feeders.
A new law limits Ridgewood residents from purposely feeding wildlife. The law states that bird feeders on public and private properties need to be more than 6 feet off the ground.
Councilman Frank Mortimer says it's to keep deer away, which are usually no more than 5 feet tall. He says the town has a large deer population and that deer eat almost anything, including bird food.
"There were issues with people feeding deer out of plates on the ground, and literally a dozen or plus deer would be in the yard, and when they leave the yard, they would go into the neighbor's yards. And just think what animals do after they eat and they deposit that into the neighbor's yard," said the councilman.
He says this will also help prevent ticks that are attached to animals, like deer.
Town officials say the new rules that forbid residents from feeding wildlife will be enforced with fines ranging from $50 to $1,000 per violation.
