Ripon bans public feeding of feral cats to protect endangered brush rabbit

In a unanimous vote, the Ripon City Council adopted an amendment that bars anyone from feeding feral cats or other stray animals on public land, including parks, streets and municipal facilities. The ordinance, which still requires a second reading in September, carries a $100 fine for repeat offenders after an initial warning from police. City officials say the rising number of abandoned cats in places like Marvis Stouffer Park endangers the riparian brush rabbit, an endangered species found only along the lower Stanislaus and San Joaquin rivers.

The ban also seeks to reduce disease risk from unvaccinated, unsterilized cats. Animal-control officers conducting trapping programs are exempt, and the police chief said officers will educate the public about the new rule. Conservation groups, such as Tri-County Wildlife Care, warn that feeding bans alone may not curb the problem and call for more trapping and neutering efforts to protect biodiversity.