Council heeds call of the wild at recent confab
CITY HALL — Peanuts, bread crumbs, bird seed and dog diets were at the heart of a recent, often heated, debate between Santa Monica’s elected leaders.
What started out as a discussion among members of the City Council over where local residents should be allowed to feed and walk their pets quickly expanded into a disagreement over the feeding of wild birds and squirrels. In the end, the council passed a law intended to clarify the city’s position on public feeding and park access for dogs.
“I’m reminded of the dilemma that one faces visiting a national park and being bitten by a mosquito,” City Councilman Kevin McKeown said. “Tempted to slap — you’re not supposed to harm the wildlife, but you’re not supposed to feed them either.”
On one side of the debate were council members hoping to preserve a popular form of recreation. On the other, council members who said feeding wild animals set a dangerous precedent and disrupted natural cycles.
“It seems my whole life, everything I’ve ever learned about wild animals, whether they reside in the mountains or in the cities, is that they shouldn’t be fed because it changes the way they behave, populations get out of control,” said City Councilman Bob Holbrook, who recounted an unpleasant experience he had after putting a wild bird seed feeder outside his home.
“When the food finally ran out, you won’t believe this, but I couldn’t keep the squirrels out of the house,” Holbrook said. “They just would gnaw through the screens, come into the kitchen and beg for food... or run across the living room floor.
“Once they start getting fed, it really becomes a problem for everybody.”
City Councilman Ken Genser, who has said he enjoys feeding squirrels in Palisades Park, disagreed and pushed for more relaxed laws governing the feeding of wild animals and pets in parks, and on streets and sidewalks. Genser criticized the proposed law, which was designed to simplify a variety of laws pertaining to dogs.
“I just think this is overly broad,” he said. “And it is very inelegantly addressing a potential problem. I’m not even sure there is the problem, but it’s sort of like throwing a buck shot and hoping you hit a couple targets.”
The law, which was tweaked and eventually approved by the council (5-1), makes it illegal to feed dogs in leash-free areas of parks, among other things.
“Dogs often descend on the food en masse, which creates a significant likelihood of aggression and conflict. Also, some dogs must adhere to strict diets, which preclude ingestion of unauthorized ‘treats’ offered or left behind by well-meaning park visitors,” according to city documents.
The new law also makes it illegal for dogs to venture onto private property unwanted, requires dogs on private property to be enclosed and finally makes legal a practice that’s long been accepted — taking leashed and licensed dogs into city parks.
By far the stickiest part of the discussion concerned the feeding of wild animals. Donn Umber, manager of Santa Monica’s animal shelter, said the law was designed to protect both the wild animals and resident recreational activities.
“The consensus among staff was that it might be a little bit Draconian to penalize the stereotypical little old lady who’s throwing bread crumbs down for birds and getting enjoyment out of that,” he said.
Though Mayor Richard Bloom said he tended to agree with many of Holbrook’s points, he winded up voting for the law, which allows people to feed wild animals, so long as they don’t leave behind any extra food.
City Councilwoman Pam O’Connor was not present for the voting.
One question, though, remains unanswered.
“Totally personal question on this,” City Councilman Mike Feinstein said to Umber, “but being a person who always thinks like whole wheat is better than Wonder Bread, I always see people throwing Wonder Bread out for these animals. Isn’t it bad for them? I’ve just always wanted to ask someone.”
After some banter between council members, Umber replied, “I assume that’s a rhetorical question.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 14, 2004. Read the original PDF.