Brookhaven, NY Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Chapter 10A, "Feeding of Waterfowl and Pigeons," was adopted by the Town Board on November 15, 2005 under Local Law No. 27-2005, effective May 18, 2006. Section 10A-1 spells out the purpose: protecting public health, safety and welfare by prohibiting feeding because it increases the potential for damage to public parks, may cause water-quality problems, and may increase the potential for disease spread through increased rodent populations. Section 10A-2 defines "feed" broadly, to place, deposit, scatter or distribute in a location accessible to waterfowl or migratory birds any food, including corn, wheat, other grains, bread, popcorn, scraps, or any substance liable to be eaten, and defines "waterfowl" to include mute swans, Canada geese and mallards, plus other Anseriformes, while "pigeons" covers domestic Columbiformes.

The operative prohibition, § 10A-3, is a single flat sentence: it is unlawful for any person to feed any waterfowl or pigeon within any Town park. "Park" carries Chapter 10's broad definition, covering all parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, pools, beaches, boardwalks and marinas the Town owns or controls. Section 10A-4 creates one exception: the ban does not apply to feeding waterfowl or pigeons confined in zoos or rehabilitation centers, specifically naming Holtsville Ecology Park. The law includes its own severability clause at § 10A-6, so a court striking one provision does not void the rest of the chapter.