Manzano Springs CDP (part), Bernalillo County, New Mexico Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding Rules (2026)

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish rule 19.31.4 NMAC prohibits intentionally placing bait or feed that attracts deer, elk, bears, or cougars in a manner that habituates them to humans, and Albuquerque Animal Welfare Ordinance §9-2-1 treats intentional wildlife feeding that creates a neighborhood nuisance as a public-safety offense. In the Sandia foothills (east of Tramway Blvd) and along arroyos west of the Rio Grande, bear and coyote sightings are common, and Open Space rangers actively enforce feeding bans. Unsecured trash, pet food left overnight on patios, fallen fruit not cleaned up, and ground-level bird feeders accessible to bears are all considered attractants that can trigger a warning or citation even if feeding was not intentional. NMDGF recommends bear-resistant trash containers in the foothills. Hummingbird feeders, thistle-seed tube feeders, and suet out of bear reach are generally allowed except during active bear advisories.