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Medford, OR Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 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.]

View official code

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?
Yes. Section 5.607(1) defines "feed" to include storing or scattering food, garbage, or any other attractant so as to lure or entice wildlife, so leaving accessible garbage that draws deer or raccoons can violate Section 5.608.
What animals are covered by Medford's wildlife feeding ban?
Section 5.607(3) defines "wildlife" as deer, raccoon, and wild turkey, plus "potentially habituated wildlife," which the same section defines as bear, cougar, coyote, and wolf. Feeding any of these species within city limits violates Section 5.608.
Can the City make me clean up a wildlife feeding site in Medford?
Yes. Section 5.609 declares a violation of the feeding ban a public nuisance, which the City can abate under the general nuisance abatement process in Section 5.520, potentially assessing cleanup costs against the property.

Sources & Official References

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