Whereas the intentional feeding of wildlife is often detrimental to wildlife by causing them to concentrate and habituate to living in unnatural conditions within a community, damaging property, and becoming a nuisance and public safety issue; And whereas section 33.1 of the Wildlife Act prohibits the intentional feeding of dangerous wildlife, but does not apply to other wildlife, meaning that the feeding of wildlife in general is not regulated, and conservation or other officers have no authority to control, enforce, or educate the public about problems caused by the intentional feeding of wildlife: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government amend the Wildlife Act to prohibit the intentional feeding of problem wildlife.
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development The Province recognizes the often detrimental impacts of intentional feeding and subsequent concentration and habituation of wildlife. In 2008, the Province amended the Spheres of Concurrent Jurisdiction Environment and Wildlife Regulation B.C Reg. 1442004, enabling municipalities to regulate, prohibit and impose requirements respecting the feeding or attracting of dangerous wildlife or members of the family Cervidae. It removed an existing barrier to municipal action, and sent a clear signal to municipalities that the Province of B.C. approves of municipalities establishing bylaws aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict. In 2018, the Province drafted a policy for supplemental intentional feeding, to provide direction on this important issue and will work to finalize this policy in the coming year. Government staff will continue to regularly provide information on the risks associated with supplemental feeding to the public at stakeholder meetings, and through the media. The Province is committed to exploring legislative changes to prohibit the intentional feeding of problem wildlife. This will require a careful review of options, as well as engagement with Indigenous peoples, UBCM and stakeholders.