Chicago Charges $500 for Feeding Pigeons, Whats the Big Deal with Bird Feeding?
of E. coli is from animal waste, specifically from birds who fly over the lakefront and leave their wastes in the water. Chicago charges a $500 fine for anybody who feeds the pigeons and has signs about not feeding seagulls, too. The Chicago Park District follows United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to keep their lakes and beaches clean. Swimmers and recreational visitors look for red, yellow and green flags. The red flags mean a swim ban is in effect for E. coli sightings or hazardous weather. A yellow flag means there have been signs of illness from E. coli. A green flag means it’s okay to swim. Those who choose to visit the beach will be fined if they sit on the docks or by the sand or anywhere near the beaches or viaducts close to the lakefront feeding birds. Strange enough, while news programs were broadcasting the high level of E. coli, one day I was sitting on a dock reading, turned around and a lady was throwing potato chips all over the dock a few feet from me
