Fort Smith bans unattended feeding of stray dogs, stray cats, feral cats, deer, geese, ducks, raccoons, fowl, and other wildlife under a Chapter 4 ordinance addressing nuisance attractants. Statewide, Sebastian County sits inside the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone as a Tier 2 county, which makes it unlawful under AGFC Regulation 7.06 / E1.12 to feed wild deer or elk for any purpose. Bird feeders are not banned but must be maintained to avoid attracting vermin.
Fort Smith's wildlife-feeding enforcement runs through Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances at https://library.municode.com/ar/fort_smith/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH4AN. The City's ordinance (covered at https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/fort-smith-ordinance-banning-residents-feeding-strays-uproar/527-7d23b6e0-d7b3-4312-89a1-0db6374a65db) prohibits any person from providing and leaving unattended food for stray dogs, stray cats, feral cats, deer, geese, ducks, raccoons, fowl, or other wild animals or wildlife. The ordinance was enacted in response to nuisance and disease-vector complaints, particularly around feral-cat colonies and wildlife-vehicle conflicts. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission CWD framework adds a strict state-law layer specifically for cervids. Sebastian County is listed as a Tier 2 county within the AGFC CWD Management Zone (https://www.agfc.com/hunting/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/cwd-in-arkansas/ and the rule text at https://apps.agfc.com/regulations/E1.12/). Inside the CWD Management Zone, AGFC Regulation E1.12 / 7.06 makes it unlawful to place or deposit foodstuffs, scents, lures, grains, minerals, pelletized feed, or other materials for the purpose of hunting, attracting, or enticing wildlife — limited exceptions exist for legal hunting on private land during certain seasons. The state framework is enforced by AGFC Wildlife Officers. Bird feeders are not prohibited but should be maintained — spilled seed that attracts rats or other vermin can trigger nuisance citations.
Fort Smith Chapter 4 violations for unattended wildlife or stray feeding are enforced by Animal Services with fines and abatement orders requiring removal of feed and clean-up. AGFC violations under Regulation E1.12 / 7.06 for feeding deer or elk inside the CWD Management Zone are enforced by Wildlife Officers with state fines, hunting-privilege consequences, and required removal of bait or feed. Repeated violations that draw deer or bears into Fort Smith neighborhoods can also trigger written notices prohibiting further activity at that location.
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