Gretna, LA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Effective
- Ord. No. 4437, 10-10-2012 (§ 8-6)
- Formerly codified at
- Code 1997 § 14-7
- Covers
- direct feeding and pet food left for coyotes (§ 8-6)
- Standard
- "knowingly or intentionally" (§ 8-6)
Summary
Feeding coyotes is against the law in the City of Gretna. Gretna Code of Ordinances § 8-6 bars knowingly or intentionally feeding wild coyotes, and the ban reaches even pet food left outdoors when the person knows or should know a coyote will eat it.
No person shall knowingly or intentionally feed coyotes in the city. The feeding of coyotes shall mean the intentional placement of food for consumption by wild coyotes and/or the placing of food for domesticated animals when the offender knows or should know that the food will be consumed by wild coyotes.
Full Breakdown
Section 8-6 was added by Ord. No. 4437 on October 10, 2012, and is codified from the former Code 1997 § 14-7. It bars any person from knowingly or intentionally feeding coyotes in the city, and defines 'feeding of coyotes' broadly to cover two situations: the intentional placement of food meant for wild coyotes to eat, and the placement of food for domesticated animals, such as pet food left in a yard, when the person knows or should know that wild coyotes will end up consuming it.
The provision sits in Chapter 8, Article I alongside the city's other general animal rules, including the running-at-large ban (§ 8-1), the swine ban (§ 8-2), the livestock distance rule (§ 8-3), and the bird and wildlife sanctuary protections (§ 8-4), and it applies citywide rather than to any designated zone. The section does not set out a distinct dollar penalty of its own, so a violation is enforced through the Code's standard notice and citation process.
Violations & Fines
Knowingly or intentionally feeding a wild coyote, or leaving pet food outdoors when the person knows or should know coyotes will eat it, is an unlawful act under § 8-6, enforceable under the Code's general penalty in § 1-8, a fine not exceeding $500.00, with notice of the alleged violation given as provided in § 2-1 before any citation proceeds to a hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to feed coyotes in Gretna?
Can I get in trouble for leaving pet food outside if a coyote eats it?
When did Gretna's coyote-feeding ban take effect?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gretna
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