Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed a bill sponsored by Republican state Rep. Ken Borton, that would have eased restrictions on bird and wildlife feeding near private residences.
The bill would have permitted residents to put out more than two gallons of feed within 300 feet of their residence to prevent animals from starving or for recreational viewing, according to MLive and GOP House. Currently, it is not illegal to feed birds in Michigan, but it is illegal to put out food that attracts deer, according to the AP.
Whitmer sent her veto letter to lawmakers on Oct. 7 and highlighted how the current ban on feeding wildlife prevents disease from spreading among the animals. She wrote that the bill would “cast aside sound disease management principles to loosen restrictions on deer and elk feeding,” threatening agricultural and hunting industries.
The Michigan Farm Bureau and Department of Natural Resources also opposed the bill in April, according to the AP.
Sophomore Elizabeth Speck, president of the campus conservation club, grew up hunting in Pennsylvania, where it’s illegal to spread feed or bait deer. Some “bird feeding” practices sound like veiled excuses for baiting, she said, and she doesn’t have a problem with the bill being vetoed.
“I was surprised that people were upset about it,” Speck said. “Baiting or spreading feed can be damaging to deer populations especially in lieu of chronic wasting disease and hunting practices, so I feel that this is appropriate.”
While the club hasn’t yet held a discussion about legislation, Speck said she hopes that they’ll hold an event related to it during the spring semester.
In a statement, Borton said his plan would have protected citizens from unfair fines and permitted recreational bird and wildlife feeding, and that the Department of Natural Resources failed to provide hard evidence against the bill.
The chief of the Wildlife Division of the Department of Natural Resources said he was unaware of a study indicating backyard bird feeding contributes to the spread of chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis, according to Borton.
“Gov. Whitmer’s veto of my bipartisan legislation flies in the face of common sense, making criminals out of Michigan residents who feed the birds,” Borton said. “Unfortunately, overly broad government rules punish individuals who simply place food in their yards — even to keep animals from starving.”
About a decade ago, Borton himself was ticketed for bird seed that had spilled from a feeder and attracted deer. According to the AP, he said the case was dropped.
“Mary Poppins would be disappointed,” Borton said of the veto.
On Oct. 13, the bill was re-referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation.
