HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-31-25 Public Comment - L. Swain - Objection to chickens kept at 3025 Healy Ave, BozemanFrom:Loretta Swain
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Objection to chickens kept at 3025 Healy Ave, Bozeman
Date:Friday, October 31, 2025 1:16:07 PM
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October 30, 2015
Bozeman City Commission
City Hall
121 N. Rouse
Bozeman, MT 59715
RE: My objection to chickens kept at 3025 Healy Ave., Bozeman
Dear City Commissioners,
I live at 3023 Healy Ave. I’ve owned this home since 1990 & raised my children here.
The house next door at 3025 Healy Ave. is owned by Skyler Hollinbeck. He has lived there while going to MSU and has had
renters as roommates.
For approximately the past 5 years, he has had chickens in his backyard, and I assumed he had a chicken permit. I’ve learned
this year that he did not. In past years, the chickens would get into my yard and I’d call him to get the chickens and put them
back in his yard. This past winter raccoons killed all his chickens, so since then, Skyler has purchased 11 new chickens and
has kept them enclosed in a small portion of his yard so the raccoons could not get to them. He told me he researched how
many chickens were allowed for his property and the required space for them to roam, but he chose not to get a permit and
kept them confined in the small area.
Over the last few years, I have had trouble with raccoons in my backyard. I was concerned this year as I had more raccoon
signs and sounds, so I contacted Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. I was told that most likely, the raccoons were in and around
my property because they were trying to get the chickens next door. I was also informed by MT FW&P about the long list of
diseases, such as rabies and distemper, that raccoons can carry, which was alarming. I determined that the raccoons were
climbing my aspen trees near my back deck, jumping onto the deck railing and then onto my garage roof. I could see feces on
my garage roof, so I hired an animal control company for professional help. I was told by their employee that the raccoons
were basically using my roof as a latrine, and they advised me to clean off the feces and spray down my roof and deck with
antibacterial substances to avoid disease spread.
I have two little granddaughters ages 3 and 5 who love to run around in my backyard, play in the sprinkler, etc. Also, I enjoy
hosting my family and friends on my back deck for barbecues and gatherings, so the possibility of the areas being unsanitary
was very concerning. Therefore, I chose to clean and sanitize my roof, and to hire an animal control company to set cages to
catch the raccoons. In the past TWO MONTHS they have captured EIGHT RACCOONS! Today there is more feces in my
yard, so hoping to catch a NINTH! Of course, this is expensive and has cost me $650 thus far. I asked Skyler if he’d be
willing to pay for the raccoon removal and he said “No”. I can only assume, if the chickens are allowed to stay next door, I
will continue to have the problems with raccoons in the spring and again have to pay for their removal.
In the meantime, a few weeks ago I heard a rooster crowing daily for approximately seven days, so I asked Skyler if he knew
where this crowing was coming from & he told me he had gotten a rooster. I told him I did not think roosters were allowed in
the city limits. Finally after a week of Skyler not doing anything about the rooster, I called and talked with Tim Wenthe, City
of Bozeman Animal Control. Tim called Skyler. This got the ball rolling on Skyler applying for a chicken permit and him
getting rid of the rooster.
Since then, Skyler has gotten several signatures from neighbors saying they don’t object to the chickens. However, the house
on the other side of Skyler is a rental. The young tenants just moved in a month ago and probably have little or no idea about
chickens causing problems with raccoons. Other neighbors are not directly affected by the raccoons and thus the chickens
may not be a concern.
As a side note, Skyler left yesterday for Germany for four years. He let me know that a renter will be taking care of his
chickens while he is gone for four years.
I would appreciate you considering this situation, which is not appropriate for a neighborhood in the city limits. This is an
example of why the City of Bozeman regulates having chickens in town. The possibility of the raccoons spreading diseases to
people and pets is a serious concern for all, as well as the financial and personal problems for me.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mary Loretta Swain
3023 Healy Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715