Ventura County, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Ventura County Animal Services takes the position that feeding wild animals is illegal and that its Animal Control Officers will strictly enforce the State laws pertaining to this activity, with bird feeders being the typical exception. The concern is most acute with predators: feeding - whether intentional, or by leaving accessible pet food, fallen fruit, or unsecured trash - attracts coyotes, raccoons, foxes, opossums, and larger predators, habituating them to people and increasing dangerous human-wildlife encounters. The County's Coyote Management Plan emphasizes removing food attractants (not feeding wildlife, securing garbage, bringing in pet food, and not leaving pets unattended) as the core of reducing coyote conflicts. California's Fish and Game Code and CDFW regulations restrict feeding big-game and certain other wildlife, and intentionally feeding wildlife in ways that create a public-safety hazard or nuisance can be addressed under both state law and the County's animal nuisance authority. While the County's published guidance frames the wildlife-feeding prohibition primarily through state law enforced locally rather than citing a single County section number, residents in unincorporated areas should treat feeding coyotes, deer, and other wild mammals as prohibited and instead focus on hazing and attractant removal. Anyone with a wildlife conflict should contact Ventura County Animal Services or CDFW rather than feeding or attempting to relocate the animal.