The feeding of wildlife in the town of Ellicott is officially prohibited.

Town Board members in January unanimously approved an ordinance that bans the feeding of animals such as deer, coyotes and bears while also establishing a fine scale and enforcement procedure.

Its creation was spurred by Councilman Robert White, Ward II, who in September suggested the town look into an ordinance to give local officials more authority to crack down on people leaving food out for animals — especially deer. Such feeding on one street in West Ellicott has drawn the ire of neighbors and the attention of the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

However, due to the lack of results by going through the DEC to handle enforcement of state law that prohibits deer feeding, White sought a town ordinance.

“The DEC will do nothing about it, so I think we have an obligation to make sure that we have a code that protects neighborhoods from starting to decay as a result of excessive feeding,” the councilman said last September. “It’s happening on Price (Avenue) and I think we need to take the steps so that we can fix this problem, not just for Price but for the entire town.”

Marilyn Fiore-Lehman, town attorney, provided the Ellicott Town Board with a draft ordinance that members eventually approved at their Jan. 8 meeting. The ordinance states that “the feeding of wild animals is disruptive to the natural feeding habits and digestive health of those animals.”

It further states, “Over a period of time, wild animals, which are fed by people, tend to become both a public and private nuisance and present a public health concern for the neighborhoods affected.”

The ordinance defines wild animals as bears, coyotes, deer, feral cats, foxes, groundhogs, opossum, raccoons and skunks as well as any domesticated unlicensed animal such as stray cats and dogs.

It also prohibits the feeding of nuisance birds, other than song birds or hummingbirds.

Specifically, the ordinance prohibits anyone within the town from intentionally placing food “intended or suitable for consumption by wildlife or stray animals on any property, public or private.”

There are exceptions to the ordinance:

— veterinarians or other trained professionals who are rehabilitating an injured wild animal.

— certified wildlife foundations or other nonprofit organizations that focus on rehabilitating an injured wild animal.

— any county or state official who is authorized to “implement an alternative control method set forth in any approved wild animal management plan.”

In addition, the new law does permit the feeding of most wild birds with exception to “nuisance birds and waterfowl.” Each property owner is allowed to have one bird feeder for every 7,500 square feet of lot area and not closer than 5 feet from any property line. Feeders have to be at least 4 feet off the ground and no higher than 8 feet.

Enforcement, which will be complaint-driven, will be handled by the Ellicott Police Department and town code enforcement officer. Those found to be in violation will be “ordered to cease the feeding immediately.”

Fines will range between $50 and $500 for each offense.

The ordinance does state, “No fine shall be implemented unless the alleged violator has received notice and has been given the opportunity to be heard.”