Blaine, MN Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Section 14-220, adopted by Ordinance No. 17-2374 on March 16, 2017, sits in Article V of the animal code, Nondomesticated Animals. Subsection (a)(1) states flatly that 'No person shall feed or allow the feeding of wild or feral animals or of small mammals within the city.' The section defines feeding broadly: it covers grain, fruit, vegetables, nuts, salt licks 'or any other food that could attract wild animals,' though living vegetation such as trees and other plants growing on the property is not counted as feeding.

The ordinance carves out one narrow allowance in subsection (b): bird feed may still be placed in dedicated bird feeding devices to attract wild birds, provided those feeders are placed high enough or designed to keep other wildlife out. Subsection (c) exempts city, county, state and federal employees or agents, and veterinarians, acting in the course of official duties or while an animal is in their custody or management, so wildlife officials responding to a nuisance deer or goose complaint are not themselves in violation.

The provision works alongside the article's broader purpose in § 14-215, protecting public health from disease transmission and animal bites tied to nondomesticated animals congregating around food sources. Because § 14-220 sits inside chapter 14, a violation is enforced as a misdemeanor under the chapter's blanket penalty clause, § 14-30, and the Code's general penalty section, § 1-7, which allows a fine up to $1,000.00 and up to 90 days in jail, with each day of continued feeding chargeable as a separate offense.