The city of Sedona views its April 11, 2023, Sedona City Council decision to prohibit feeding wildlife as a success.
“Between Jan. 1 2020 and May 20, 2023, there were three reports of javelina bites [to humans]; since, May, 11 2023 when the ordinance went into effect, there has been one report of a javelina bite,” City Communications Manager Lauren Browne stated in a April 28 email. “A reduction in [wildlife] incidents that involve injury/bites” is how the city measures the ordinance’s success, Browne stated.
The bite after the ban occurred on between 2 and 3 a.m. Dec, 18, 2023, on Ross Road in West Sedona.
A provision allows bird feeders so long as they’re at least four feet above the ground or secured by a means that makes them inaccessible to other wildlife.
First offenders are given a written warning and a copy of “Living with Javelina,” an Arizona Department of Game and Fish pamphlet. A second violation within 90 days carries a fine of up to $150 and additional offenses carry fines of up to $500.
“The root cause of most human-wildlife conflicts is giving wildlife easy access to food, water and/or shelter,” a January press release from the Arizona Department of Game and Fish reads.
“Since the ordinance went into effect, there have been 12 total calls for service regarding ‘feeding of wildlife’; four of the 12 received written warnings,” Browne stated. “The remaining eight were either unfounded or no violations were observed.”
Ten calls were made by residents and two reports came from Game & Fish.
The four written warnings were issued to properties on Indian Cliffs Road on Jan. 2, 2024; on Ross Road on Dec. 18, 2023, where a bite occurred; on Pine Knolls Drive on Nov. 7, 2023; and on Lyric Drive on Oct. 26, 2023. None of the properties have received a second violation.
“Our community service officers and sworn officers respond to calls for service and provide information and give warnings to those individuals that may not be aware of the city ordinance and/or conduct enforcement,” Browne stated.
“During our community outreach event, we gave information to the community covering an array of animal and city ordinances, and we shared information during the two citizen academies, Humane Society kids camp and ad-hoc presentations. We also have passed out brochures to short-term rental property managers and hotels.”
There have been no formal requests for exemptions to the ordinance by residents, and the Sedona Police Department has not asked Game & Fish to relocate any wildlife since the ordinance was implemented.
However the city’s calls to service log documented a lone juvenile “at risk” coyote that frequented a business in the 700 block of SR 179 on Oct. 5, 2023 that an employee stated had “seen people feeding it.”
Report observations of feeding that makes wildlife bold or aggressive to AZGFD‘s Operation Game Thief tip line at (800) 352-0700.
For more information about living with urban wildlife, visit the AZGFD website at azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife or call the Flagstaff office at (928) 774-5045.
