Anti-Feeding Regulation for Bears
According to Jaime Sajecki, the Black Bear Project Leader for the State of Virginia, a strong anti-feeding regulation is one of the best tools a bear manager can have. "It gives you a lot of leverage when nine people in a neighborhood do the right thing but one refuses to bring in their trash. Usually just being able to threaten a ticket will get people to comply," say Jaime.
The Virginia Dept of Game & Inland Fisheries now has this regulation:
4VAC15-40-282. Unauthorized Feeding of Bear
It shall be unlawful for any person as defined in Code of Virginia § 1-230* to place, distribute, or allow the placement of food, minerals, carrion, trash or similar substances to feed or attract bear. Nor, upon notification by department personnel, shall any person continue to place, distribute or allow the placement of any food, mineral, carrion, trash or similar substances for any purpose if the placement of these materials results in the presence of bear. After such notification, such person shall be in violation of this section if the placing, distribution, or presence of such food, minerals, carrion, trash or similar substances continues. This section shall not apply to wildlife management activities conducted or authorized by the department.
*§ 1-230. "Person" includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof.
Six Anti-Feeding Regulations / Wildlife Ordinances
To download this free PDF, please follow the link below: