Lodi, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

The City of Lodi's official Wildlife in the City page (lodi.gov/250) advises residents: "Food should never be intentionally left out for wild mammals... remove pet food and water bowls at night and secure garbage with tight-fitting lids." While Lodi Municipal Code Title 6 does not contain a numbered feeding-prohibition section, intentional feeding that draws wildlife into close human contact can be enforced under: (1) Cal. Fish & Game Code §251.1, which prohibits harassment of game mammals — defined to include any act that disrupts an animal's natural behavior patterns; (2) 14 CCR §251.3, which prohibits the use of bait to take or attract certain wildlife; and (3) Lodi's general public nuisance authority in Municipal Code Title 8 where wildlife habituation creates rabies, sanitation, or property damage risks. Lodi sits adjacent to Lodi Lake Park (a 58-acre wilderness preserve) and surrounding farmland, generating regular raccoon, opossum, and skunk encounters in residential neighborhoods. Skunks are a particular concern: per CDFW data cited by the city, approximately 65% of California skunks tested over the past five years carried rabies. Feeding bans on bears, deer, and mountain lions are also enforced statewide under 14 CCR §251.1. Lodi Animal Services will not trap healthy wildlife (such animals are state property and must be released on site); residents are encouraged to remove attractants rather than seek removal.