The Kitsap Public Health Board is considering an update to its three-decade-old rodent control policy that would prohibit feeding wildlife in Kitsap County.

John Kiess, director of environmental health for the health district, says the update adds additional language so they can better address human caused activities that attract pests.

“One of the things we are dealing with frequently is, my neighbor does x and that brings in the raccoons, or brings in rats, or brings in birds,” he told health board members during a presentation this week. “Our existing ordinance has been limited in how we can deal with that.”

Regularly fed wildlife can become aggressive towards humans and spread disease, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Human and pet food are also generally harmful to

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