Wildlife Feeding
Animal Ordinances
Rules about feeding wild animals like deer, coyotes, or feral cats, and requirements for securing trash to prevent wildlife encounters.
How Wildlife Feeding Rules Differ by Place
Peoria, AZ: Peoria Park Wildlife Feeding Ban
Heavy RestrictionsFeeding wildlife in a Peoria park, along with touching, chasing, or otherwise harassing any animal, reptile, or bird, is banned outright under City Code Section 7-66(a)(12) unless theā¦
Sedona, AZ: Sedona's Ban on Feeding Wildlife
Heavy RestrictionsSCC Ā§ 6.15.020 makes it unlawful to "intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feed wildlife or to attract wildlife" anywhere within Sedona, covering bears, javelina, deer, elk, coyotesā¦
Antioch, CA: Animals: Wildlife
Heavy RestrictionsFeeding wildlife (deer, raccoons, coyotes, turkeys) is discouraged and may be prohibited when it creates a public nuisance. Antioch residents should contact California Department ofā¦
Fairfield, CA: Feeding Wildlife in Fairfield
Few RestrictionsFairfield does not have a city-specific wildlife-feeding ban, but California Fish and Game Code and Title 14 regulations make it illegal to feed big game mammals (deer, bears) andā¦
Pomona, CA: Pomona Wildlife Feeding Restrictions
Few RestrictionsPomona does not have a specific wildlife feeding ordinance. Nuisance conditions from wildlife attractants may be enforced under general nuisance provisions of the municipal codeā¦
San Diego County, CA: San Diego County Wildlife Feeding
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated San Diego County has no dedicated ordinance prohibiting the feeding of coyotes, deer, or other wildlife. Such conduct is governed mainly by California law: Fish and Gameā¦
Wildlife Feeding Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Alabama
Some RestrictionsAlabama Department of Conservation regulations restrict baiting and feeding of deer and other game animals statewide during hunting seasons, with separate rules on bear feeding andā¦
Arizona
Some RestrictionsArizona makes it unlawful to intentionally feed or attract wildlife, except birds and tree squirrels, in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties under A.R.S. 13-2927. The offense is a pettyā¦
California
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia law makes it illegal to knowingly feed big game mammals, deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, black bear, and Nelson bighorn sheep, anywhere in the state. The Californiaā¦
Colorado
Some RestrictionsColorado prohibits feeding big game wildlife including deer, elk, and bears under Parks and Wildlife regulations. The ban applies statewide and preempts permissive local practices.
Connecticut
Heavy RestrictionsConnecticut prohibits the intentional feeding of black bears and other potentially dangerous animals on any land not owned by the state under Conn. Gen. Stat. Ā§ 26-25a, added by Publicā¦
Florida
Some RestrictionsFlorida law prohibits intentional feeding of black bears, alligators, crocodiles, sandhill cranes, foxes, raccoons, and pelicans. These FWC rules apply statewide regardless of localā¦
Georgia
Light RestrictionsGeorgia lets you feed deer and other wildlife on private land, but DNR Rule 391-4-2-.60(1) makes it unlawful to place bait or any wildlife food on a state Wildlife Management Area.
Idaho
Significant RestrictionsIdaho Fish and Game rule IDAPA 13.01.18.200 makes it unlawful to purposely or knowingly provide supplemental feed to wild deer, elk, and other cervids inside any Chronic Wastingā¦
Illinois
Some RestrictionsIllinois Wildlife Code prohibits feeding deer and similar wildlife in many counties to prevent chronic wasting disease spread, with statewide enforcement authority.
Iowa
Some RestrictionsIowa sets no statewide ban on backyard wildlife feeding, but Natural Resource Commission rule 571, 106.7(6) makes it unlawful to hunt deer with the aid of bait, grain, salt, mineralā¦
Kansas
Some RestrictionsKansas Administrative Regulation 115-8-23, adopted by the Wildlife and Parks Commission, prohibits baiting and feeding of wildlife on all public lands statewide. The 2023 amendmentā¦
Kentucky
Significant RestrictionsKentucky bars feeding wildlife statewide from March 1 through July 31 under 301 KAR 2:015, and prohibits feeding and baiting year-round on Wildlife Management Areas. Bird feedersā¦
Louisiana
Some RestrictionsLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries holds exclusive authority over wildlife management. State regulations prohibit feeding alligators and restrict baiting of deer and otherā¦
Maine
Heavy RestrictionsMaine prohibits intentionally baiting bear outside the regulated hunting season and restricts deer feeding that creates nuisance or public-safety conditions. IF&W administersā¦
Michigan
Some RestrictionsMichigan DNR prohibits baiting and feeding of free-ranging deer and elk in the Lower Peninsula due to chronic wasting disease. State wildlife law preempts local rules permitting suchā¦
Minnesota
Some RestrictionsMinnesota Statute 97B.106 restricts deer feeding statewide in counties affected by chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis. DNR rules supplement the law and apply uniformlyā¦
Mississippi
Heavy RestrictionsMississippi regulates supplemental feeding of deer and other wildlife through MDWFP rules. Feeding for hunting purposes is restricted, and feeding is banned in CWD management zones andā¦
Missouri
Heavy RestrictionsMissouri Wildlife Code 3 CSR 10-4.200 prohibits year-round placement of grain, salt, minerals, and other consumable attractants for deer in the Department of Conservation's CWDā¦
Montana
Heavy RestrictionsMontana state law prohibits intentional or negligent feeding of deer, elk, bears, and other game animals statewide. The rule preempts municipal allowance and applies on privateā¦
Nevada
Some RestrictionsNevada Department of Wildlife prohibits feeding big game mammals like deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, antelope, and mountain lions. NAC 503.145 makes intentional feedingā¦
New Hampshire
Some RestrictionsNew Hampshire restricts feeding wildlife: Fish and Game rules prohibit attracting black bears once the department notifies you to stop, and RSA 208:8-b restricts feeding wild deer. Theā¦
New Jersey
Some RestrictionsNew Jersey statute bans the intentional feeding of black bears statewide and authorizes wildlife regulators to address other species attracting nuisance behavior.
New Mexico
Some RestrictionsUnder NMSA 17-2 and Game Commission rules, intentionally feeding or baiting big game animals to create nuisance conditions is unlawful statewide. Violations are enforced uniformly byā¦
North Dakota
Some RestrictionsThe North Dakota Game and Fish Department prohibits baiting deer on most state and federal lands and restricts feeding wildlife in chronic wasting disease (CWD) management zones underā¦
Ohio
Some RestrictionsOhio does not ban feeding wildlife everywhere. The statewide rule that exists, Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-9-01(P), applies only on land the Division of Wildlife owns, controls orā¦
Oregon
Some RestrictionsOregon has no blanket statewide ban on feeding deer or elk. Under ORS 496.731, ODFW may order removal of attractants for potentially habituated wildlife, and many cities adopt theirā¦
Pennsylvania
Some RestrictionsPennsylvania Game Commission regulations prohibit intentionally feeding bears and elk statewide, with deer feeding restricted in chronic wasting disease zones.
South Carolina
Some RestrictionsSouth Carolina bans intentionally feeding black bears statewide under S.C. Code Ā§ 50-11-440 and restricts deer baiting by region under Department of Natural Resources rules. Theseā¦
South Dakota
Few RestrictionsSouth Dakota does not broadly prohibit residential wildlife feeding. Baiting big game (deer, elk, antelope) for hunting is regulated under ARSD Article 41:08, but supplemental winterā¦
Texas
Light RestrictionsTexas lets hunters bait and feed game animals, including deer, on private property statewide. Baiting is unlawful on most public land, for wild turkey in the East Zone, and for allā¦
Virginia
Some RestrictionsVirginia prohibits baiting wildlife for hunting and lets localities ban deer feeding, while bear feeding bans are addressed through hunting and Department regulations.
Washington
Some RestrictionsWashington bans intentionally feeding or attracting large wild carnivores, bears, cougars and wolves, to any land or building, and treats a first intentional violation as a misdemeanorā¦
West Virginia
Some RestrictionsWest Virginia Division of Natural Resources regulations prohibit intentionally feeding black bears statewide and restrict baiting of deer and other wildlife. These rules applyā¦
Wisconsin
Heavy RestrictionsWisconsin prohibits baiting and feeding deer in counties with chronic wasting disease (CWD) or bovine TB under Wis. Stat. 29.336 and NR 10.07. The Department of Natural Resourcesā¦
Wyoming
Heavy RestrictionsWyoming Game and Fish Commission holds exclusive jurisdiction over wildlife. State law and Commission regulations restrict feeding big game animals such as deer, elk, and mooseā¦
Cities & Counties with Wildlife Feeding Rules
304 locations
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Georgia
Louisiana
Other Animal Ordinances Topics
Chickens & Livestock
Combined rules for keeping chickens and other livestock such as goats, rabbits, and ducks on residential property, including lot size requirements.
Dog Leash Laws
When and where dogs must be on a leash, off-leash park rules, leash length limits, and penalties for dogs running loose.
Breed Restrictions
Bans or special requirements for specific dog breeds, including breed-specific legislation, muzzle requirements, and insurance mandates.
Beekeeping
Rules for keeping bees in residential areas, including hive placement, number of colonies allowed, and registration requirements.
Exotic Pets
Which non-traditional pets are allowed or banned, such as reptiles, ferrets, potbelly pigs, and other exotic animals.
Pet Limits
Maximum number of cats, dogs, or other companion animals allowed per household, including counts that trigger kennel-license requirements.
Cat Rules
Rules specific to cats, outdoor roaming, feral cat colonies, leash laws (yes, some cities require them), and licensing requirements.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Requirements that dogs and cats over a certain age be sterilized, with intact-animal permits, exemptions for breeders, and penalties for noncompliance.
Microchipping
Mandates that dogs and cats be microchipped before leaving a shelter or by a certain age, including registration and tag requirements.
Coyote Management
How your city handles urban coyotes, including hazing protocols, feeding bans, and what residents should do when sighting one near homes.
Pet Store Rules
Restrictions on retail pet sales, including bans on commercially bred dogs and cats and rescue-only sourcing requirements.
Pet Groomer Rules
Health and safety standards for commercial pet grooming, including animal-handling certifications, sanitation, and zoning where mobile groomers may operate.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Where veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and emergency animal-care facilities may be located, including overnight-boarding and noise buffers.
Bird Protection
Local rules protecting specific bird species (LAMC Ā§53.55), including penalties for trapping or harming protected species and bird-safe building design.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
CDFW and city permits required to rehabilitate injured wildlife, including the Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit program and approved holding facilities.