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

We reviewed Amador County's Animal Control Ordinance (Title 8) and did not find a county section that bans residents from feeding wild animals such as deer, bears, or coyotes. Title 8 defines and regulates 'wild animals' that people keep or possess (Section 8.04.200) and requires proper care of owned animals (Section 8.08.040), but it does not address putting out food for free-roaming wildlife. Because no specific county wildlife-feeding ordinance exists, the governing rules are at the state level. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife strongly discourages feeding wildlife because it habituates animals, spreads disease, and increases dangerous human-wildlife conflicts; in foothill counties like Amador this especially concerns black bears, deer, and mountain lions. California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 251.3 prohibits the intentional feeding of big game mammals (which include deer and bear). Residents who attract bears or other wildlife by leaving out food or unsecured garbage may also face nuisance-abatement attention. If you are experiencing problems with wildlife, contact CDFW; for problems involving owned or captive animals, contact Amador County Animal Control. Always check for any newer county or state rules before feeding or attempting to deter wildlife.