MIDLAND - ‘Sanity’ will hopefully soon return to an Aberdeen Boulevard neighbourhood, following the passing of an overfeeding wild animals bylaw that has been frustrating residents for years.
Midland council passed the animal control bylaw for feeding of wildlife at the recent regular meeting, as a result of a 2023 deputation by Mitra Doherty who brought evidence of the overfeeding in the vicinity of Aberdeen and Riverwalk Place, near the mouth of the Wye River.
In the time leading up to council’s decision, more photos and videos were provided to town council and staff, including photos of rodents, a large predatory coyote, and a wintertime video that showed roughly a hundred waterfowl swarmed around the fenced area of neighbourhood backyards.
Doherty had contacted MidlandToday in 2022 to express concerns on the matter, sharing that the issue had been ongoing for a decade.
Deputy Mayor Prost had pressed staff for a solution to the issue in repeated council meetings since Doherty’s deputation, and expressed relief to vote in favour of the bylaw.
“I’m glad staff put the time in, I’m glad it passed, and I really hope it’s the beginning of people reclaiming their space, their homes, and their property,” Prost told MidlandToday.
Coun. Catherine MacDonald had also been an advocate for Aberdeen residents, frequently citing the impact overfeeding could have on the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, a provincially significant wetland and woodland a short distance away.
“If your sanity and your pleasure of your own home is (threatened) because of someone that is feeding wild animals and you’re enduring very many unpleasant situations,” said MacDonald, “I hope that if this bylaw doesn’t work, and the practice continues, that it comes forward to us again to address it in a stronger manner. But it is a start; we’ll give it a shot.”
Within the report, staff proposed adding ‘feeding of wildlife’ definitions to the previous animal control bylaw for feed or feeding, songbird, and wild animal in private and public properties; the definitions primarily excluded compost and home gardens, as well as domestic animals, feral or stray cats, and songbirds and hummingbirds. A $150 fine was set for violation of feeding a wild animal and leaving food or attractants out of door.
MacDonald asked staff what would happen as per the $150 fine if the practice were to continue, but Mayor Bill Gordon chose to field the question.
“I can just offer some reassurance on that,” said Gordon.
“A set fine – it’s always the option of a law enforcement officer not to issue what’s called a Part I notice; they go to a Part III notice,” Gordon explained, “which means that it’s a summons for court with no set fine and they have to explain to the Justice of the Peace why they’re continually bothering their neighbours and defying our bylaw.
“So we don’t necessarily have to define escalation of fines for a second offence and third offence, because there’s always: go to court and explain why you’re being such a lovely neighbour. And that exists in all of our bylaws.”
MacDonald replied: “It’s reassuring to know the follow-up on that.”
The approval of the bylaw meant immediate ratification by council.
The animal control bylaw for feeding of wildlife report is available in the council agenda on the town of Midland website.
Council meetings are held every third Wednesday, and can be viewed on Rogers TV cable channel 53 when available, or through the livestream on the Rogers TV website. Archives of council meetings are available through Rogers TV and on the Town of Midland’s YouTube channel.