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Medford, OR Animal Ordinances: Coyote Management (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing sections
Medford Code 5.606-5.609
Coyote classified as
"Potentially habituated wildlife"
Prohibited act
Feeding, luring or enticing wildlife
Adopted
Ord. No. 2016-85, Jul. 21, 2016

Summary

Medford bans feeding coyotes citywide under Section 5.608, which the code folds into a broader wildlife-feeding prohibition covering bear, cougar, coyote, wolf, deer, raccoon and wild turkey, with every day of feeding a separate violation.

5.608 Prohibition Against Feeding Wildlife. (1) No person may feed wildlife within the City of Medford. (2) Violation of this section constitutes a violation. Every day in which the violation exists constitutes a separate violation. 5.607 Definitions. (2) "Potentially habituated wildlife" means bear, cougar, coyote, and wolf.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-32, passed May 6, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Medford's approach to coyote conflict is feeding control, not culls or hazing programs. 607 defines that habituated category specifically as bear, cougar, coyote, and wolf, and defines 'feed' broadly as placing, depositing, distributing, storing or scattering food, garbage, or any other attractant that lures or entices wildlife. 608 then makes it simple: no person may feed wildlife within the City of Medford, and violating that ban is a violation, with every day the violation exists counted as a separate offense. 520. The ordinance was added by Ordinance No.

2016-85 on July 21, 2016, and it targets the attractant, feeding, rather than the animal itself: Medford's code has no coyote culling, trapping, or hazing authorization in this chapter, so residents reporting coyote conflicts are directed toward the feeding prohibition and nuisance-abatement process rather than a lethal-control program.

Violations & Fines

A first feeding violation is charged as a Medford Code violation under Section 5.608(2), and because every day the feeding condition exists is a separate violation, an unattended feeder or bait pile left out for a week can generate multiple counts. Section 5.609 additionally lets the City treat the violation as a public nuisance and abate it under the Section 5.520 nuisance-abatement procedure, independent of any court fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to feed coyotes in Medford?
Yes. Section 5.608 makes it unlawful to feed wildlife anywhere in the City, and Section 5.607(2) specifically classifies coyotes as 'potentially habituated wildlife' covered by the ban, alongside bear, cougar and wolf.
Does Medford run a coyote cull or trapping program?
No. Sections 5.606 through 5.609 address only the feeding and attracting of wildlife; the code contains no culling, trapping, or hazing authority for coyotes in this chapter.
What counts as illegal feeding under Section 5.608?
Section 5.607(1) defines 'feed' as placing, depositing, distributing, storing or scattering food, garbage, or any other attractant that lures, attracts, or entices wildlife, which can include unsecured pet food, garbage, or bait piles left accessible outdoors.

Sources & Official References

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All Medford rules

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