Southampton, NY Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Added in 2012 and amended in 2023, § 150-14.1 targets nuisance wildlife feeding rather than deliberate wildlife nourishment for farming or sport. Subsection A makes it unlawful for any person to place, deposit, scatter, spread, distribute or otherwise disseminate on public property, including Town facilities, any type of foodstuff, including but not limited to corn, wheat or other grains, bread, crackers, popcorn, or scraps, in a manner that makes it available to be eaten by a goose or geese and other wild animals. Subsection B narrows that ban with a specific carve-out: it remains lawful to place, deposit, scatter, spread or distribute corn, wheat or other grains, plants or seeds on public property when done in conjunction with lawful and legitimate agricultural, fishing or hunting activities, so working farms, bait stations for licensed hunting and similar uses are not swept into the prohibition.

The section sits within Chapter 150, Dogs and Other Animals, so it is enforced the same way as the rest of the chapter: park rangers, bay constables, code enforcement officers, the Animal Control Officer, peace officers and Town of Southampton police officers can issue an appearance ticket under § 150-14 for a violation observed in their presence. Penalties follow the Chapter 150 schedule at § 150-15, up to $250 for a first conviction, $250 to $500 for a second, and $500 to $1,000 for a third or later conviction, each with a mandatory $100 animal welfare surcharge added on top, and each day the feeding continues counts as its own separate violation.