Bird enthusiasts can relax but in an effort to enhance safety for Saskatoon residents, City Council approved a wildlife feeding ban for the city.

Wednesday at the council meeting both The Animal Control Bylaw and The Property Nuisance & Abatement were amended introducing new regulations which prohibits intentially feeding wildlife or leaving out that which attracts wildlife like food, food waste, compost or garbage that could attract wildlife.

The exception is that residents can continue to feed birds on private property using a bird feeder that is above grade to prevent access to other wildlife.

The fines are set at $250 for the first offence, $500 for the second and $1,000 for the third offence or any subsequent incident.

In a news release Saskatoon’s Parks Director Thai Hoang says, “Feeding dangerous wildlife, even unintentionally, can lead to increased risks and poor outcomes for both animals and residents.”