Manchester, CT Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

The Board of Directors adopted Article IV on February 2, 2021, effective June 1, 2021, using the Town's home-rule power under Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-148(b) and its nuisance-abatement power under Section 7-148(c)(7)(D) and (E). Section 113-6 states the purpose: stopping regular wildlife feeding that makes animals dependent on humans, creates droppings that threaten public health, and disturbs neighboring property owners. Section 113-7 defines 'wildlife' for this article as deer, bears, coyotes, foxes, turkeys and geese, and defines 'feed' as giving, placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering edible material meant to feed, attract or entice wildlife, excluding legal hunting and fishing bait.

Section 113-8 prohibits intentionally feeding any of those species on a regular or continuous basis on private property, in any public park, or on any other Town-owned or Town-operated property. Feeding is still allowed outdoors, public or private, as long as it does not disturb neighbors, does not let droppings accumulate, does not attract rodents or other wild animals, and no food is left outside overnight. Nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation or environmental-education groups, licensed pest-control operators controlling wildlife, and public officers or employees doing their jobs are all exempt.