San Bernardino County, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

1301 (Food Left Outside for Certain Mammalian Predators) makes it unlawful to feed, or in any manner provide food for, one or more nondomesticated mammalian predators. The code defines that category to include coyotes, raccoons, foxes, opossums, bears, mountain lions, and bobcats. San Bernardino County Animal Care reinforces this on its wildlife page with the warning 'Never feed wildlife - it is against the law,' and advises residents not to leave accessible food sources outside, including garbage bags and pet-food bowls, because human and pet food harm wildlife and habituate predators such as coyotes that prey on small dogs and cats.

The ordinance contains narrow exceptions: it does not apply where the person providing food is the lawful owner of the predator under a valid certificate or permit from the California Department of Fish and Game, or where a person provides food for a trapped, injured, or unweaned predator between the time animal control is notified and the time the animal is picked up. Intentional or even inadvertent feeding (such as leaving pet food out) that attracts these predators can therefore be a violation.