St. Lucie County, FL Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

412 sets the penalty structure for violating any Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rule that prohibits or restricts feeding wildlife or freshwater fish with food or garbage, attracting them with food or garbage, or placing food or garbage in a way that attracts them; it does not apply to animals held in captivity or to baiting rules tied to hunting. A first violation is a noncriminal infraction carrying a $100 civil penalty; the cited person signs the citation, may pay by mail within 30 days without admitting guilt for other purposes, or contest it in county court, where a violation must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

A second or later violation involving wildlife other than bears, alligators or other crocodilians is a second-degree misdemeanor. Violations tied to bears escalate fast: a second bear-related offense is a second-degree misdemeanor, a third is a first-degree misdemeanor, and a fourth or later is a third-degree felony. St. 01, giving the county its own nuisance-abatement route to the same problem alongside the FWC citation system.