Cowlitz County, WA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

CCC § 9.06.050(L) lists "Feeding Wildlife" among the acts and items the Park Code makes unlawful on or within any county park: leaving, placing or distributing foodstuffs or other material in any park to feed wildlife. The prohibition sits alongside a related ban in § 9.06.050(M) on "Disturbing Animals," which bars teasing, annoying, disturbing, molesting, catching, injuring or killing wildlife, or throwing a stone, missile or object at any animal in a county park. Both rules apply to the designated county parks listed in § 9.06.010, such as Riverside Park, Woodbrook Park, Coweeman River Park and Harry Gardner Park, and to their contiguous county-owned property under the definition of "park" in § 9.06.020.

The Director of the Cowlitz County Department of Public Works can post additional rules under § 9.06.030 governing wildlife interactions at specific sites. The feeding ban is meant to keep wild animals, including deer and waterfowl that frequent riverside parks along the Columbia and Cowlitz Rivers, from becoming habituated to people and food sources, which can create safety hazards and property damage. County employees and law enforcement personnel performing official duties are exempt under § 9.06.025.