Anchorage Bans Wildlife Feeding, Fines Up to $500

0:00It's April 29th. This is Anchorage News today, AI-powered stories from your city. Anchorage just dropped a new law cracking down on feeding wild animals like bald eagles. In a 9-3 vote on Tuesday, the assembly passed an ordinance banning folks from intentionally giving food to birds of prey or leaving out. Trash that draws them in. First offense hits you with a $250 fine and repeats jump to $500. This covers more than just eagles. It includes invasive birds like starlings, raccoons, feral rabbits, even moose, deer, foxes, and bears. The goal is to cut down on fights between animals and people or pets, stop disease spread, and keep wildlife from getting too cozy around humans. People have been spotting aggressive eagles at spots like Shansh new Muldoon Park, in East Anchorage, where crowds of them swarm parking lots after, getting handouts. Park staff reported regular feeding with unsecured meat, turning the area into an epicenter for over 50 birds at a time, scaring dog walkers away.

1:02Assemblymember Yarl Silver's pushed the bill after complaints poured in, but carved out an okay for backyard birds. Enforcement kicks off complaint-based call, the code hotline at 907-3434-141 or hit up Parks and Rec. Biologists warn that leftover food draws bears come spring melt, so the push is to let nature handle its own. This went live right away, aiming to keep eagles soaring wild, not begging in lots.