New Yorkers and visitors used to feeding birds and squirrels in the city’s parks may need to change their habits this summer. The Department of Parks and Recreation is proposing a prohibition on feeding all wildlife.

“We are always interested in helping people to better appreciate wildlife in the city,” said Richard Simon, director of the Parks department's Wildlife Unit. “Appreciate them in a more natural setting than artificially luring them in and providing food sources that they really don’t need.”

The city says animals congregate when people feed them — and that leads to the spread of disease.  Feeding wildlife also attracts rats, and encourages aggressive behavior in animals. Simon said that feeding animals is unhealthy for another reason: it leads to obesity. 

Robert DeCandido, a biologist who organizes bird watching walks, disagrees with the proposal. He said the city can reduce the rat population by reducing garbage and that taking away the opportunity to feed animals also takes away the chance for urban dwellers to appreciate wildlife.

The Park's Simon said that residents have already expressed concern that the city's birdfeeders would be taken away. Those will remain, he said.

Once the rule is enacted, Parks employees will work to educate residents before ticketing them.

The public hearing will be held at noon on March 1 in Manhattan. The city is accepting public comments.

Update: this story was edited on 2/28/19 to correct the location of the hearing.