Chico has no city-specific wildlife-feeding prohibition in its Municipal Code; the controlling rule is state. 14 CCR §251.1 defines feeding game and non-game mammals or birds in a way that disrupts normal behavior as 'harassment,' which is a misdemeanor under Cal. Fish & Game Code §12000. Chico Animal Services actively encourages residents to eliminate food sources to prevent conflicts with raccoons, deer, coyotes, skunks, and bears moving in from the Bidwell Park and Camp Fire burn-scar corridor.
Chico Municipal Code contains no express prohibition on feeding wildlife. The legal hook for enforcement is California Code of Regulations Title 14, §251.1 (Harassment of Animals), which makes it unlawful for any person to harass, herd, or drive any game or non-game bird or mammal or furbearing mammal. 'Harass' is defined as 'an intentional act which disrupts an animal's normal behavior patterns, which includes, but is not limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering.' Intentionally feeding deer, coyotes, raccoons, bears, or skunks falls within the definition and is enforceable as a misdemeanor under Cal. Fish & Game Code §12000 with fines up to $1,000. Chico Animal Services (located at 2579 Fair St, 530-897-4960) publishes wildlife guidance emphasizing non-lethal coexistence and identifying typical local species (raccoons, opossums, skunks, deer, coyotes, occasional mountain lions and bears). Because Chico abuts the 2018 Camp Fire burn scar and Bidwell Park (3,670 acres) hosts native deer and predator populations, secured trash (CMC Title 8 nuisance provisions) and removed pet food are the standard recommendations. Feeding feral cats is not specifically prohibited but TNR (trap-neuter-return) is managed via Chico Animal Shelter partners; abandoned feeding sites can trigger nuisance complaints under CMC Title 8.
Wildlife harassment (including feeding that disrupts natural behavior) is a misdemeanor under Cal. Fish & Game Code §12000, with fines up to $1,000. Trash and food-attractant nuisances can be abated under CMC Title 8 by Code Enforcement.
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