Medford, OR Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Medford Code § 5.606-5.609
- Covered species
- Deer, raccoon, turkey, bear, cougar, coyote, wolf
- Continuing violation
- Each day is a separate violation
- Nuisance abatement
- City may abate under § 5.520
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 2016-85, Jul. 21, 2016
Summary
Medford bans feeding deer, raccoon, wild turkey, bear, cougar, coyote, and wolf anywhere in the city, with each day of a continuing violation counted separately. The City Council adopted the ban in 2016 to cut injury risk to people and pets and damage to landscaping and property.
5.608 Prohibition Against Feeding Wildlife. (1) No person may feed wildlife within the City of Medford. (2) Violation of this section constitutes a violation. Every day in which the violation exists constitutes a separate violation. [Added Sec. 3, Ord. No. 2016-85, Jul. 21, 2016.]
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-32, passed May 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
607 defines "wildlife" to mean deer, raccoon, wild turkey, and "potentially habituated wildlife," which the same section defines as bear, cougar, coyote, and wolf. 607(1) to mean placing, depositing, distributing, storing, or scattering food, garbage, or any other attractant so as to lure, attract, or entice wildlife, which reaches routine acts like leaving pet food or garbage out as well as intentional feeding. 606 is that feeding these animals creates an unnecessary risk of injury to people and companion animals and causes damage to landscaping, fences, and dwellings, and that prohibiting it promotes public health, safety, and welfare.
608(2) makes a violation a continuing offense: every day the violation exists is a separate violation, so a resident who keeps a feeder out accrues a new citation daily rather than a single one-time penalty. 520, which can include City-ordered cleanup with costs assessed against the property. 609, was added by Ordinance No. 2016-85 on July 21, 2016, and has not been amended since.
Violations & Fines
Feeding any listed wildlife species is a violation under Section 5.608(1)-(2), with each day the feeding condition persists (such as an active feeder or accessible food source) treated as a separate violation. Because the offense is also declared a public nuisance under Section 5.609, the City can abate it under Section 5.520's nuisance procedure in addition to citing the responsible person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to leave garbage out that attracts deer in Medford?
What animals are covered by Medford's wildlife feeding ban?
Can the City make me clean up a wildlife feeding site in Medford?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Medford
Compare Medford to another location·View the Oregon animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.