Ridgewood bird feeders now face strict rules after April's ordinance banned ground feeding and limited properties to 3 feeders, citing bear chaos and bird flu. The move, affecting 2.3 million New Jersey bird-watchers, drew sharp backlash on social media as 'an attack on property rights.'

New Ridgewood law requires feeders be 6 feet high with seed catchers, aiming to curb bear encounters and disease. Statewide, legislators debate even stricter bird feeder bans, while locals grumble, “How about NO,” and neighboring towns consider copycat moves.

Bergen County, home to Ridgewood, reports the highest black bear activity in New Jersey, fueling the urgency behind these quirky bird feeder restrictions.