Feeding Wildlife

Hamilton's Regulate the Feeding of Wildlife By-law 12-130(PDF, 152.32 KB) states that you may not feed wildlife.

Dangers of Feeding Wildlife

• You will attract unwanted animals to your home and neighbourhood.

• Animals associate humans with food and do not hunt for their natural food. They can become more aggressive.

• Human food is unhealthy for wildlife and may cause disease, injury or death.

• Wildlife gather in unnaturally large groups around food, such as bird feeders. This spreads parasites and disease.

If you feed wildlife, fines of up to $10,000 for your first time and up to $25,000 for a subsequent conviction are possible.

Feeding Birds

You can feed birds if:

• The bird is on your property.

• You do not let bird poop pile up.

• It does not disturb your neighbours.

Waterfowl such as ducks or geese are wildlife. You cannot feed them.