WILDLIFE -- The Oregon House has voted to give authorities the power to prohibit people from feeding bears, wolves and cougars, the Associated Press reports.

The House’s 51-9 vote on Monday sends the measure to the Senate. The bill would allow police to issue a warning requiring people to stop feeding bears, wolves and cougars, but it doesn’t specify a penalty if they don’t comply.

Democratic Rep. Jean Cowan of Newport says the measure is needed to prevent wildlife from becoming comfortable with humans and dependent on them for food. She says the bill is a response to an incident in Lincoln County, where a woman refused to stop feeding bears and the bears damaged her neighbors’ property while looking for food when she went on vacation.