(a) Definitions. The following words, terms, and phrases when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
(1) "Whitetail Deer" means a ruminant animal having deciduous antlers, usually in the male only, or no antlers, usually referred to as does.
(2) "Feed" or "feeding" means the knowing, intentional act of furnishing, or otherwise making available, food or other substances which are likely to be consumed by whitetail deer.
(3) "Natural" means food or other substances consumed by whitetail deer produced by, or existing in nature, not artificial.
(b) Prohibition of Feeding. No owner or occupier of land within the City of Bridgeport shall knowingly or intentionally feed, cause to be fed or provide or make available food or other substances for the consumption by whitetail deer within the City of Bridgeport, either on private property or on public property. Feeding whitetail deer the following food is expressly prohibited: salt, corn, apples, cabbage, potatoes, acorns, oats, carrots, beets, straw, hay, fodder or any combination thereof.
(c) Exceptions.
(1) This section shall not apply to any corn, apples, cabbage, potatoes, acorns, oats, carrots, beets, straw, hay, fodder or any combination thereof which is natural to that particular land owned or occupied where feeding of whitetail deer is occurring. For example, by way of illustration only, this section shall not apply to apples or acorns generated from an apple tree or oak/acorn tree located upon the subject premises or carrots and corn grown in a garden located upon the subject premises.
(2) This section shall not apply to birdfeeders used for the intentional feeding of birds.
(d) Penalty. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be deemed to have committed a misdemeanor, subject to the payment of one hundred dollars ($100.00) plus costs, for the first violation.
Any repeat offense shall be subject to increased fines as follows:
(1) First repeated offense shall be one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) plus costs.
(2) A fine for second repeated offense and any subsequent offense shall be two hundred dollars ($200.00) plus costs.
(e) Severability. The subsections of this section shall be deemed to be severable and should any subsection, paragraph, or provision hereof be declared by the Courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the validity of this section as a whole.
(Ord. 04-10. Passed 9-27-10.)
(Ord. 04-10. Passed 9-27-10.)