Delaware law (7 Del. C. §704) prohibits baiting deer. New Castle County discourages intentional wildlife feeding that creates nuisance. Unsecured pet food and trash that attract wildlife may violate county property maintenance rules.
Delaware state law at 7 Del. C. §704 prohibits placing bait to attract deer except during limited DNREC-regulated periods, making unrestricted deer feeding illegal statewide. New Castle County does not have a separate ordinance prohibiting all wildlife feeding, but intentional feeding that creates nuisance — concentrated wildlife near dwellings, damage to neighbor properties — can be cited under UDC 40.04.110 property maintenance and nuisance provisions. Bird feeders are generally permitted. Pet food must not be left outside overnight as it attracts raccoons, foxes, and opossums. Feral cat colonies are managed in cooperation with Faithful Friends and the Delaware SPCA. Black bears are rare in New Castle County but coyote populations are expanding, and feeding coyotes is strongly discouraged by DNREC.
Deer baiting violation: up to $500 fine under DNREC enforcement (7 Del. C. §704). County nuisance citation for wildlife concentration: Notice of Violation, $100 to $500 civil penalty. Repeated violations: escalating fines.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in New Castle County.
See how Newark's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
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