The City of New Braunfels is hosting a public education meeting about the ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife inside the City limits. The ordinance (Sections 82-24 to 82-28) was approved by New Braunfels City Council in 2018 and added specific language prohibiting anyone from intentionally feeding wildlife by placing food on the ground or within reach of any wildlife, including deer, ducks, geese, and squirrels.
The ordinance applies to the entire city limits, including public parks, private property, and green spaces. Placing any food, like corn, fruit, oats, hay, nuts, wheat, alfalfa, salt blocks, feed, grain, vegetables, or commercially sold wildlife/livestock feed is strictly prohibited. Violators are subject to a citation and fine of up to $500 for each violation.
The public education meeting is set for Wednesday, May 29th at 6pm at New Braunfels City Hall, located at 550 Landa Street. City staff will be on hand to provide information and education about the wildlife feeding ordinance as well as the impact wildlife feeding has on the local watershed.
This public education meeting, and recent reminders about the prohibition on feeding wildlife in the city limits, comes ahead of an increase in enforcement this summer. Beginning in July, city park rangers, animal welfare officers, and code enforcement officers will begin an increased effort to issue warnings and, if necessary, citations for those that choose to continue to feed wildlife on their property or in public parks.
Again, the City’s public education meeting on wildlife feeding is set for Wednesday, May 29th at 6pm at New Braunfels City Hall, located at 550 Landa Street. To learn more about the wildlife feeding ordinance, visit www.newbraunfels.gov/wildlife.