Mansfield, TX Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Mansfield does not have a stand-alone wildlife feeding ordinance, but Chapter 14 (Animals) and the general nuisance provisions of Chapter 74 allow the city to abate conditions that attract wildlife and create health or safety risks. Intentional feeding of deer, coyotes, raccoons, feral hogs, and waterfowl in residential areas is strongly discouraged because it habituates animals to humans, increases vehicle collisions, and in North Texas is the leading cause of coyote bite incidents. Bird feeding for songbirds is generally allowed, but feeders must be maintained to avoid attracting rodents; bear-proof storage is not required locally because black bear sightings in Tarrant County are rare. Under Texas Parks and Wildlife rules, deer feeding on private property is legal but baiting for hunting is regulated during game seasons, and hunting of any kind is not allowed within Mansfield city limits due to the discharge of firearms ordinance. Feral hog damage on the rural edge of the city is addressed through Texas Agriculture Code 142 and TPWD year-round hog take rules on private property with landowner consent; inside city limits, hog complaints go to Animal Care and may be managed by contracted wildlife control. Rabies vector species including skunks, raccoons, bats, and foxes should be reported to Animal Care; feeding them is treated as contributing to a public health nuisance.