Showing ordinances that apply to Harrisville, RI
Harrisville is an unincorporated community (population 1,745) in Providence County, Rhode Island. Because Harrisville is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Providence County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The wildlife feeding rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Rhode Island prohibits feeding of deer and certain wildlife under RIGL §20-16 and RI DEM regulations. Providence County municipalities also address wildlife feeding through nuisance and public health ordinances, especially for urban coyotes and geese.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) regulates wildlife feeding under RIGL §20-1 et seq. and the Fish and Wildlife regulations. Specifically, RI DEM prohibits baiting and intentional feeding of white-tailed deer statewide (RI DEM Hunting Regulations), with fines up to $500. Coyote feeding is strongly discouraged and may be treated as creating a public nuisance. Providence has an active urban coyote population and issues public advisories under the Narragansett Bay Coyote Study framework. Providence Code Chapter 4 (Animals) and similar municipal codes treat unsecured trash, pet food left outdoors, and intentional feeding of wild animals as potential nuisance violations. Feeding Canada geese at Roger Williams Park, Slater Park (Pawtucket), and other public spaces is typically prohibited by park rules. Black bears are expanding into northwestern RI (Burrillville, Glocester) and unintentional bear feeding via bird feeders and trash is actively discouraged by RI DEM. Rats are a significant public health issue — Providence Code §13-9 prohibits conditions attracting rodents, which intersects with wildlife feeding rules.
Feeding deer: RI DEM fine up to $500 under Fish and Wildlife regulations. Municipal nuisance violations: $50 to $500. Attracting rats through outdoor feeding in Providence: Code §13-9 citation $100+. Repeat offenses may escalate to misdemeanor.
See how Harrisville's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.