We the citizens of Camden, Maine believe that the local native wildlife should not be sustained by wholesale artificial means. We believe no person shall harbor, keep, or feed any animal or bird on private or public property in a manner that creates an unclean, unsafe, or unsanitary condition either on such person’s property, the Town’s property, or any other neighboring private property.

We understand that in May 2012 the City of Rockland encountered a similar issue with the wholesale feeding of wildlife. Rockland addressed this problem by adopting a new code, effective July 11, 2012, that prevents the feeding of any animal or bird in a manner that creates unsanitary conditions.

We urge the Select Board of Camden to promptly amend the Town's code to address with language to the following effect.

No person shall harbor, keep, or feed any animal or bird, on private or public property, in a manner that creates an unclean, unsafe, or unsanitary condition either on such person’s property or on the property of another or of the Town, that causes annoyance to others, property damage, or otherwise deleteriously affects the quiet enjoyment by others of any private or public property, by dispensing, feeding, or otherwise making available to any species of wildlife, including birds, any type or amount of food that creates an unreasonable disturbance or to such a degree that the wildlife becomes unnaturally dependent on this food source, or attracts other wildlife, vermin, or pests, or results in the accumulation of droppings, feces, feathers, or otherwise constitutes a private or public nuisance.