Surfside Beach considers higher fines, possible jail time for bird-feeding violations

SURFSIDE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Some leaders in a South Strand town say stronger penalties are needed for violating the town’s bird laws.

Surfside Beach leaders are considering higher fines and possible jail time for residents who repeatedly violate the town’s bird-feeding ordinance, a concern tied to years of complaints about large geese flocks in the area.

At a town council meeting Tuesday night, Councilman John Hiatt proposed changes to the current bird and waterfowl ordinances.

Feeding geese, seagulls, and other birds is already illegal in Surfside Beach, with a current fine of $200 per offense.

Hiatt’s proposal would create new consequences for repeat violations, including a maximum fine of $500.

The proposal would also make it illegal for anyone to encourage birds to flock.

Hiatt also called councilmembers’ attention to the current ordinance’s stipulation that offenders will not be incarcerated, and shared that this could be changed if the council wished.

“I don’t really want to change that, I’d hate to see people go to jail for feeding geese,” Hiatt said. “If anyone wants to add jail time, the law allows us to add up to thirty days.”

Councilmembers Skip Walls and Shawn Fallon said they would support adding incarceration for feeding birds.

Fallon told WMBF she supports adding jail time to the penalties because of a pattern of repeat violations

“A certain number of people, the number is low, that continuously feed the geese, ongoing, even after they get tickets,” Fallon said. “They pay them, they go back to court, and it’s a repetitive thing.”

Fallon adds that stricter consequences may be needed to deter that behavior.

“When it was brought up last night in the council meeting, you know, what can we do? And you know, jail time maybe will wake up people,” Fallon said.

One Surfside Beach resident, Mark Bell, said he has seen large groups of geese in the area over the years, and while he’s not bothered by their presence, the waste they leave behind is an irritant.

“They like to be in flocks, anywhere from five to thirty,” Bell said. “It’s the physical mess that they leave behind that is really an issue, for me anyhow.”

Another neighbor said he does not object to the birds being in his neighborhood, but agrees they should not be fed by people.

“They’re natural feeders, they actually feed on our grass and eat other things, they don’t need to really be fed,” William Bartel said. “You shouldn’t really feed animals.”

The council did not take action on the proposal and instead decided to review it at a future workshop.

Mayor Robert Krouse told WMBF the workshop has not been scheduled yet.

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