Snohomish County, WA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

The county sets no specific ordinance in Title 9 barring the feeding of songbirds, deer, or general wildlife - that gap is filled by state law. RCW 77.15.792 makes negligently feeding, attracting, or providing food to large wild carnivores (bears, cougars, wolves) a violation enforced by WDFW, because it habituates dangerous animals. Intentionally placing food or attractants that draw large carnivores can bring a state infraction and, on repeat, criminal liability. At the local level, food left out that creates a rodent or nuisance-animal problem can be addressed under the county's general nuisance provisions, but the primary wildlife-feeding rule is the state carnivore statute.