Bellingham, WA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Bellingham adopted BMC 7.12.130 by Ordinance 2017-10-024 (October 2017) to address ongoing problems with deer habituation in residential neighborhoods (the in-town deer herd had grown to a public-safety problem with vehicle strikes, landscape damage, and aggressive does-with-fawns) and raccoon predation on domestic pets, garbage, and structures. The ordinance provides: (1) PROHIBITION - it is unlawful to intentionally feed deer or raccoons or to make food available for their consumption. A person is PRESUMED to have intentionally fed deer or raccoons if the person places food, or causes food to be placed, on the ground outdoors or in any outdoor area reachable by deer or raccoons. (2) EXCEPTIONS - the ordinance does NOT apply to (a) animal control officers, veterinarians, peace officers, city employees, federal or state wildlife officials, or property owners who are authorized by a local, state, or federal government to treat, manage, capture, trap, hunt, or remove wild animals and who are acting within the scope of authority; (b) food that may derive from landscaping or gardening elements including shrubs, live crops, plants, flowers, vegetation, gardens, trees, and fruit or nuts that have fallen on the ground from trees; and (c) the placement of food for the purpose of feeding domestic livestock, pets, or wild birds. The 'wild bird' exception is the practical accommodation that allows backyard bird feeders to continue, but the ordinance still requires that the feeder not become a de facto deer or raccoon feeding station - poorly designed feeders that spill seed reachable from the ground can trigger violations. (3) WHY RACCOONS - the ordinance specifically targeted raccoons because they may kill domestic animals, destroy property, and carry rabies, roundworms, and bacteria that can infect humans. STATEWIDE WDFW DEER/ELK/MOOSE FEEDING & BAITING RULE: On May 17, 2025, WDFW's emergency rule taking effect under WAC 220-413 (and the corresponding chronic-wasting-disease management framework) banned recreational and supplemental feeding and the use of attractants for deer, elk, and moose anywhere in Washington, in response to the late-2024/early-2025 confirmation of Chronic Wasting Disease in Washington white-tailed deer (initial detections in Spokane County). The WDFW rule layers on top of Bellingham's BMC 7.12.130 and applies statewide, including to species (elk, moose) that BMC 7.12.130 does not specifically cover. WDFW Police enforce the state rule (1-877-933-9847 violator hotline); Whatcom Humane Society Animal Control enforces BMC 7.12.130 in Bellingham (360-733-2080). BEAR & COUGAR: WDFW separately regulates feeding of large carnivores under Chapter 77.15 RCW; intentional bear and cougar feeding is prohibited statewide. City of Bellingham 'Keep Wildlife Wild' public-education campaign promotes bird feeder hygiene, garbage securing, and removal of attractants.