Fullerton, CA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

208 finds that the lakes on city property, including Laguna Lake, provide important habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds, and that this habitat is best protected by replicating the natural environment, which means not supplementing food. The city expressly declares that supplemental feeding outside the natural habitat can discourage migration, spread avian disease and reduce birds' intake of proper nutrition. The ordinance defines a RESTRICTED AREA as any publicly owned lake, pond, stream, creek, fountain or body of water in the city, expressly including Laguna Lake, and defines WATERFOWL broadly to include any ducks, geese or other birds that use or are reasonably capable of using a restricted area as habitat.

Subsection (C) prohibits any person from establishing or providing food to waterfowl on or adjacent to a restricted area, with ADJACENT defined as within 100 yards of the water; a person is also barred from allowing a minor in their care to feed waterfowl there. Subsection (D) separately bans abandoning or releasing waterfowl into any restricted area, closing off the practice of dumping unwanted domestic ducks or geese at city lakes. Subsection (E) gives the City Manager sole authority to grant an exception, but only on a reasonable showing of a health, wildlife management or stream management reason for feeding or release.