A couple is denying neighbors’ claims that the pair have been overfeeding wildlife at their Bristol home. They have not been leaving corn around, nor using flash cameras at night, according to the couple’s response to the neighbors’ suit in Lincoln County Superior Court.

Sherrie Tucker and husband William Lawton Jr. tell the court that, contrary to the suit’s claims, they have not been leaving bowls of food outside for wildlife. For a short time recently, Tucker was leaving food for two stray cats that were then able to be caught and taken to Lincoln County Animal Shelter, the defendants’ attorney Alice Knapp writes to the court.

Neighbors Vernard and Linda Grimes and Phillip Averill are asking the court to order Tucker and Lawton to address the issues the suit raises. The suit claims that food in bowls and on the ground at Tucker’s and Lawton’s New Harbor home has attracted chipmunks, red squirrels, flying squirrels, seagulls, raccoons, mice, rats and other animals. Property damage and safety risks have resulted for the neighbors, according to the suit.

Knapp’s Aug. 24 response denies the claims. “(No) one has ever seen a rat in the vicinity of the properties at issue,” it states.

According to Knapp’s filing, Tucker began summering at 3 Salt Pond Point in New Harbor in 2007, then moved into the home full-time in April 2011. Tucker at first helped Lawton’s mother fill the bird feeder, and since then has continued the tradition of maintaining the feeders, the response states.

“(Tucker) has never used corn to feed wildlife and does not make a habit of leaving bowls of food on her porch,” Knapp writes.

The Grimeses and Averill claim that flash cameras are going off at all hours of the night, disturbing the neighborhood and providing photographs for Tucker’s business. Knapp’s response acknowledges that Tucker owns a wildlife photography business, but denies that the cameras were installed to photograph wildlife. The cameras are security cameras and do not have flashes, Knapp writes.

Tucker and Lawton are asking the court to rule in their favor in the suit and award them their legal costs.

A court order has given the parties until April 25, 2016 to gather information in the case.