Maple Grove, MN Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Section 6-32, "Wild animal feeding," is aimed at protecting the community from the problems associated with feeding wildlife. Subsection (b) provides that no person shall feed or allow the feeding of any wild animal within any area of the city. For purposes of the section, feeding means providing one cubic foot or more of grain, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay, or other edible material, either on the ground or at a height of less than five feet above the ground, in a manner that attracts wild animals on a regular basis. Living food sources such as fruit trees and other live vegetation are expressly not treated as feed, so ordinary landscaping is not a violation. The prohibition does not apply to veterinarians, city community service officers, or city, county, state, or federal game officials acting in the course of their duties (subsection (c)). Practically, this rule discourages deliberately feeding deer, geese, raccoons, and other wildlife. The city's coyote guidance reinforces the same idea, advising residents to "do not leave pet food or garbage outside," since accessible food draws wildlife. Bird feeders generally remain acceptable because they fall below the one-cubic-foot threshold and are usually placed above five feet, but large ground feeding stations can cross the line.