Rio Rancho, NM Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

A review of Rio Rancho's Chapter 90 (Animals) found no general ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife such as coyotes, deer, or other native animals. Because the city is largely silent, wildlife feeding is controlled mainly by New Mexico state law. Under the state's Game and Fish statutes (NMSA Chapter 17, Article 2) and associated regulations, it is unlawful to cause a nuisance game-animal or depredation problem by baiting, feeding, or otherwise enticing game animals to an area, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish administers these wildlife rules; protected wildlife species are defined in NMSA Section 17-2-3. Separately, Rio Rancho's own code does address wildlife in narrow ways: Section 90.16 requires that bites by skunks, bats, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, or other wild mammals be reported to RRARC and handled under state law for rabies purposes, and Section 90.27 regulates keeping wild or exotic animals. Residents who leave food out that attracts wildlife, feral animals, or vermin could also face enforcement under the city's general nuisance, sanitation, or animal-nuisance provisions (for example the nuisance and odor language in Section 90.22). Because intentionally feeding predators or game can create public-safety and depredation issues, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is the primary authority to consult.