Title
Incorporated County of Los Alamos Ordinance No. 02-373; an Ordinance Amending Chapter 6, Article I, Adding Section 6-21 to the Code of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos Prohibiting the Feeding of Wild Animals
Recommended Action
I introduce, without prejudice, Incorporated County of Los Alamos Ordinance No. 02-373; an ordinance amending Chapter 6, Article I, adding Section 6-21 to the code of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos Prohibiting the Feeding of Wild Animals, and ask staff to assure that it is published as provided in the County Charter.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council introduce this Ordinance.
Body
The proposed ordinance seeks to add a new section, Section 6-21, to Chapter 6 Article I of the Los Alamos County Code to explicitly prohibit the feeding of wild animals on both public and private property within the County's incorporated boundaries.
Feeding wild animals contributes to a range of public health and safety concerns. It increases the risk of property damage, promotes the spread of diseases among wildlife, pets, and humans, and attracts wild animals to populated areas- leading the increase in vehicle-animal collisions. Wildlife studies have shown that such feeding practices can alter animal behavior, disrupt natural migration patterns, and diminish animals' instinctual fear of humans and predators.
The intent of this ordinance is to safeguard both the community and local wildlife by prohibiting the intentional feeding of wild animals, while allowing a narrow exception for the feeding of songbirds and pollinators using bird feeders.
Proposed Public Hearing Scheduled for September 30, 2026
Attachments
A - Ordinance No. 02-373