Feeding wildlife in Middlesex County is restricted by local bylaws and MassWildlife rules. Intentionally feeding deer, bears, turkeys, and coyotes is prohibited statewide; bird feeding is generally allowed.
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) under 321 CMR 2.13 prohibits intentional feeding of bears, and most Middlesex County communities extend this to deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, and foxes through local bylaws. Cambridge, Newton, Lexington, and Concord all have wildlife feeding prohibitions that apply to ground feeding of mammals. Bird feeding is generally permitted but must be managed to prevent attracting bears or rodents; Concord and Carlisle require bird feeders to be taken down April 1 to November 1 to reduce bear conflicts (black bears are expanding eastward into western Middlesex). Feeding feral cat colonies is regulated by some towns and may require registration with the animal control officer. Waterfowl feeding (ducks, geese at ponds) is banned in many Middlesex parks including Fresh Pond (Cambridge) and Spy Pond (Arlington) due to water quality impacts. Fines range 50 to 500 dollars per offense.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Middlesex County, MA
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Middlesex County, MA
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Middlesex County, MA
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Middlesex County, MA
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Middlesex County, MA
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Middlesex County, MA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle wildlife feeding.
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