Lancaster County, PA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Feed bear/elk
- Always illegal statewide
- Feed deer here
- Prohibited (CWD area)
- Agency
- PA Game Commission
- County ordinance
- None
- Songbird feeders
- Generally allowed
Summary
Feeding bears and elk is always illegal in Pennsylvania, and deer feeding is banned in Lancaster County, which sits in a Chronic Wasting Disease management area. These Game Commission rules are statewide; municipalities may add feeding restrictions.
It's illegal to feed deer in areas with targeted feeding restrictions and always illegal to feed bear and elk.
Full Breakdown
The Pennsylvania Game Commission bars feeding of certain wildlife statewide: it is always illegal to feed bear and elk, and it is unlawful to feed wild, free-ranging deer inside any Disease Management Area or the Established Area. Lancaster County has fallen within a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Disease Management Area, so directly or indirectly feeding deer here is prohibited to curb disease spread. The county itself sets no wildlife-feeding ordinance, the rule is the Game Commission's, but individual municipalities sometimes ban feeding deer, geese, or other wildlife as a nuisance measure. Bird feeders for songbirds are generally permitted.
Violations & Fines
Feeding banned wildlife is a summary offense enforced by the PA Game Commission with fines per violation; local nuisance-feeding rules carry municipal fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed deer in Lancaster County?
Is feeding bears illegal?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lancaster County
Compare Lancaster County to another location·View the Pennsylvania animal ordinances overview
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