Deer Park, TX Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Deer Park addresses wildlife feeding indirectly through its nuisance and sanitation provisions in the Code of Ordinances. Conditions that attract rodents, vermin, or wildlife to residential areas may be declared a public nuisance subject to abatement. This includes leaving pet food or water bowls outdoors overnight, accumulating bird seed on the ground in quantities that attract rodents, and failing to secure garbage containers with tight-fitting lids. Feeding feral cats is not expressly prohibited but may trigger nuisance complaints if it results in a colony of feral cats congregating on the property. The city coordinates with Harris County regarding coyote management, as coyotes have been reported in the Deer Park area. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages all native wildlife and prohibits keeping wildlife as pets without proper permits. Alligators found in residential areas should be reported to TPWD or the city's non-emergency police line. The city encourages residents to remove attractants rather than directly feeding or interacting with wildlife. Code Enforcement handles complaints about wildlife nuisance conditions at (281) 478-7243.