Santa Clara County prohibits feeding wildlife including deer, raccoons, coyotes, and turkeys. Attractant management is required in foothill neighborhoods where lions and bears are active.
Feeding of wildlife is prohibited in Santa Clara County under County Code provisions that address public nuisance and under the California Fish and Game Code, which the County adopts by reference for mountain lions, bears, deer, and other protected species. Intentional feeding of deer, coyotes, raccoons, wild turkeys, or skunks can result in administrative citations, and CDFW can impose additional fines. In foothill communities bordering Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, and rural areas toward Mount Hamilton, residents must secure garbage in animal-resistant containers, bring pet food indoors, and remove fallen fruit that attracts bears (black bears are increasingly common west of Highway 17). Bird feeders are generally permitted but can be regulated if they attract rodents or become a public nuisance. Feeding feral cats creates separate concerns under Animal Services rules regarding trap-neuter-return colonies.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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