CAMDEN, Maine — Camden residents narrowly approved Wednesday evening a ban on the feeding of wild animals, an ordinance that was made in response to complaints by several homeowners that seagulls and rodents were becoming a nuisance.
Residents gave their backing by a 112 to 108 vote during the annual town meeting Wednesday at the Camden Opera House.
“We’re not talking about taking away your bird feeders,” Select Board Chair John French Jr. told attendees before the vote.
The local law specifically allows feeding song birds with “well-maintained bird feeders.”
Violators will be subject to a $25 fine for the first offense and $100 for subsequent violations. The town code officer will enforce the law.
Select Board member Donald White Jr. said there have been problems with two people mass feeding birds. Several residents spoke out for the ordinance, pointing out that the feeding has attracted not only birds but rodents.
Resident Susan Neves of Chestnut Hill said she lives in the neighborhood where the people are feeding the birds and said she has had no problems. She said the town should not enact a law that is aimed at a specific person.
“This should be worked out between neighbors in a cordial manner,” Neves said.
One of the two people who have acknowledged feeding the birds in the neighborhood, Gian Gallace, had sought a seat on the Select Board. Gallace lost at the polls Tuesday to Marc Ratner, 658 to 277, for the single available seat.
Rockland adopted a similar ordinance in 2012, when there was a problem with a woman feeding birds from her home. That ordinance prohibits the excessive feeding of animals if it creates a nuisance.