BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Bowling Green is working on a new ordinance that would ban people from feeding wildlife.
The city said it's because of an increase in reports of animals being aggressive toward humans.
The proposal restricts feeding squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, raccoons, deer, turkey, and other wildlife. But there are some areas up for interpretation such as landscaping and bird feeders.
"We've been getting calls for months, for years. So this can really become a neighborhood issue," Amanda Gamby, the spokesperson for the city of BG said.
Gamby said the city has had to call in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to help with the aggressive animals. However, she said that the main reason the animals have become aggressive is due to being fed by people.
"They identified numerous areas in the community where people just had all-out wildlife buffets," Gamby said. "So it went well beyond just bird feeding, song-bird feeding stations," Gamby said.
Gamby said after a quick investigation of the neighborhoods where the complaints came from, ODNR suggested the city create an ordinance to limit feeding.
According to Gamby, most of the problem stems from a few properties and the city is not concerned with those who have a bird feeder or two.
She said the ordinance is more for those who leave out things like corn, peanuts, and salt blocks.
"The intention of the ordinance is not to go after every single person who's potentially having an interaction with wildlife," Gamby said. "This is more for someone who's intentionally feeding wildlife with the intention of drawing in numerous deer, numerous raccoons, anybody else that wants to come feed there."
Erica Harmon lives in Bowling Green. She said it's important to let wild animals be undisturbed.
"Especially when you're out in nature, that letting that be natural is key," Harmon said.
Gamby said Wildlife preservation is outlined in the ordinance. If animals become aggressive due to feeding, the city is required to euthanize them.
Harmon said she wants to be able to come to the park and continue enjoying the animals.
"I come to the park almost every single day. So just being able to enjoy the wildlife and the plants is nice," Harmon said.