Dont feed the Sea Gulls in Ocean City, New Jersey!
Jan 18th, 2007 | By Michael L. Saile, Jr., Esq. | Category: Blogs, Saile & Saile LLP NewsDo you visit Ocean City, New Jersey in the summer time? If so, beware. Ocean City has just passed a new law making it illegal to feed sea gulls. There is now a $500 fine if anyone is caught feeding seagulls. It has been reported that new law was passed to improve the quality or safety of storm water run-off. We have not seen a copy of the ordinance yet. We are not sure if a child can also be cited or a parent for their child’s actions.
This is a news story that has peeked some interest already. We’ll be hearing more, I’m sure, the closer we get to the summer.
In the meantime, I put a short video up on my website on this issue. Take a look if you want.
http://www.sjvm.org/html/2007/01jan/01252007seagulls.htm
Thanks for the addition. I am interested to see if how this new law will actually be enforced by the police and what will happen in court as a result.
Thanks for ruining all the times my family spends in Ocean City. We’ve been coming down for about 34 years. My entire family, their kids and my friends come down.
We will now comsider going elsewhere. I’m sure the Seagull rule is being brought about from people who hate these birds. These Seagulls have been here forever and this rediculous rule will not change the fact that they will still hang on the beach and on the boardwalk. Unless you ban all food everywhere, then they are here to stay.
This is so mean and stupid. I’m sure it’s only the people with their noses up their butts who like this rule. We’ve been feeding the Seagulls forever, and I’m sure if we ever come down again, which I doubt, now, that we might just accidentally drop some food on the beach or the boardwalk, or leave food on our blanket.
I’m sure this will not go over well. So many people enjoy these birds.
How about the pigeons? What if we feed them and a Seagull comes along. I guess we get fined or is it just for Seagulls? Hard to see the difference.
Get real and forget this ridiculous rule so we don’t have to go elsewhere and bring all our family and friends with us.
What about your smoking on the boardwalk rule? Last summer, plenty of people smoked on the boardwalk and not one person said anything. This whole thing is horrible . Don’t take this pleasure away from us. And your reason is a little hard to swallow.
Your rule about the Seagulls anger me very much.
Why don’t you have a rule banning those big butt women who wear thong bathing suits on the beach? Now that ruins your beach, not the birds. In fact I’m sure people have become quite ill just having to look at the ” beached whales”.
The birds have absolutely nothing to do with the safety of the storm water run-off.
Thank you for your colorful comments. Maybe someone from the Ocean City city counsel will read this blog and take your comments into consideration.
According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, as long as you are not touching, trapping, God forbid killing these gulls, you should be okay. I even called the US Dept. of Agriculture because since these birds migrate, they’re not totally under NJ jurisdiction but rathber Federal. I personally spoke to someone who said there is no law against feeding them. I personally do not feed them bread as it is non nutritious but rather, wetted down dry dog food. The mortality rate in the winter for them is very high and if one has the experience of seeing how magnificent these beautiful birds are, truly God’s blessing on the planet, one can learn a fine love/respect forthem. As for poop and eColi, any animal or bird can get it and unless the water sources are covered, how can “just” the gulls be blamed?
Hmm, so if you’re walking along the boardwalk with your just-purchased piece of pizza and a seagull dive-bombs you, flips the plate out of your hand, and all his cronies come over and eat it, will you still get fined for feeding them? I’m hoping this new law will help cut down on the crowds of aggressive birds, but as someone else said, where there are people with food, the seagulls are here to stay.