It is illegal to feed wildlife in Avondale under Arizona state law. A.R.S. 13-2927 makes feeding, attracting, or enticing wildlife unlawful in larger counties (which includes Maricopa County), with exceptions only for feeding birds and tree squirrels. Unlawful feeding of wildlife is a petty offense. Feeding habituates coyotes and javelina and creates public-safety risk.
Avondale does not need a separate city ordinance to prohibit wildlife feeding because Arizona's statewide statute already applies. A.R.S. 13-2927 states that 'this section applies in a county with a population of more than two hundred eighty thousand persons,' a threshold Maricopa County (where Avondale is located) exceeds. Within such counties it is unlawful to feed, attract, or otherwise entice wildlife into an area, and the offense is classified as a petty offense. The statute excludes 'normal agricultural or livestock operational practices' and the feeding of tree squirrels and birds, so backyard bird feeders are allowed - best practice is to keep feed in an enclosed yard or on a platform that catches spilled seed so it stays available only to birds and tree squirrels. The law exists because feeding habituates coyotes, javelina, and other animals to humans, leading to conflicts and, in some cases, the animals having to be removed. Arizona Game and Fish actively warns residents against feeding wildlife. Violations are commonly enforced with fines up to a few hundred dollars, and repeated wildlife-attraction can also draw a criminal-nuisance citation. Residents experiencing wildlife conflicts should contact Arizona Game and Fish rather than feeding or trying to relocate the animals themselves.
Feeding wildlife (other than birds and tree squirrels) in Maricopa County is a petty offense under A.R.S. 13-2927, commonly enforced with a fine up to about $300; attracting wildlife that creates a hazard can also support a criminal-nuisance citation. Enforcement is by state and local officers, with Arizona Game and Fish as the lead wildlife agency.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Maricopa County.
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