Gaithersburg, MD Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Section 4-6(a) makes it unlawful to use an 'attractant,' defined in § 4-1 as food products, pet food, feed, grain or salt, or otherwise engage in behavior intended to attract or tame any wild animal or 'designated rabies vector species,' the list of species the state identifies each year as capable of carrying rabies. Section 4-6(b) carves out an exception: attractants may be placed solely to feed wild birds and small mammals if the feeding device or structure is built or positioned at a height or design that keeps deer and rabies vector animals from reaching it.

Feed that lands naturally from vegetation, or that results from ordinary agricultural or gardening practices, is not a prohibited attractant under § 4-6(c). The city manager can also order the temporary removal of feeding structures and devices under § 4-6(d) during a period of high rabies incidence, or otherwise to protect resident health and safety. 'Wild animal' is defined in § 4-1 to include designated rabies vector species and other non-domesticated mammals such as deer, foxes, coyotes, opossums, raccoons, skunks and groundhogs.