BOSTON — Legislation stripping three-time violent felons of parole eligibility has been making headlines lately.
But in a hearing room Tuesday morning, policymakers had habitual wildlife feeders rather than habitual offenders on their minds.
Legislation supported by the Patrick administration and heard by the Environment Committee would allow the government to begin to fine individuals for feeding wildlife, with the first offense meriting a written warning, followed by a $50 fine for a second offense and $100 for a third.
According to Daniel Clark, natural resources section director in the state's Department of Conservation's Division of Water Supply Protection, the bill (S 2028) is largely targeted at "dedicated" feeders that he said often arrive at water bodies with garbage bags full of cereal or bread pieces to feed gulls and other birds.
The problem, Clark said, is that after feasting on scraps in parking lots, gulls spend the evening roosting in places around community water supplies and other sites.
The issue is not limited, however, to protecting bodies of water.
On Cape Ann, state and town officials have repeatedly pleaded with residents not to feed wildlife — warning that, among other things, food left for some animals can be a draw to others, such as coyotes or fisher cats.
Most notably, Rockport and U.S. Post Office officials especially expressed concern two years ago that flocks of wild turkeys that were harassing mail carriers and some residents were being emboldened by someone who was drawing them to the area by leaving food.
The conservation Department has stepped up its efforts to discourage feeders, but officials are not always successful.
"Right now, we have no resource to make them stop," Clark said. "The signs don't do it."
House Environment Committee co-chairman Rep. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer, said she was unaware the problem existed and said the bill had "merit."
While officials have erected signs saying feeding in a number of areas is prohibited, "they need something to back up those signs," Gobi said.
The fines may be enough to discourage people from feeding birds.
"Maybe it is enough to tell people you really shouldn't be doing this," she said.
While not specifying an alternative fine, Clark wondered whether a $100 fine would be enough to deter bird feeders.
"They're spending a lot of money on the food anyway," he said.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield, filed it at the request of the Hoosac Lake Restoration and Preservation District. In written testimony to the committee, Downing said association members are concerned by the "ecological damage caused by the proliferation of Canada geese in the area."
The bill authorizes environmental police to enforce Department of Fish and Game regulations.
Material from the State House News Service was used in this report.
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