Tuscaloosa, AL Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Research of Tuscaloosa's Chapter 4 (Animals and Fowl) did not identify a section that specifically prohibits feeding wildlife such as deer, raccoons, or feral animals. In the absence of a dedicated rule, two backstops apply. First, the city's general nuisance authority can address situations where feeding attracts pests, vermin, or animals that damage property or threaten public health or safety; accumulating food waste that draws rodents or other animals may itself be treated as a nuisance under the code. Second, Alabama state wildlife regulation governs interactions with wild animals. Alabama Administrative Code Rule 220-2-.26 restricts the possession, importation, and release of numerous wild species and requires permits for protected wild birds and animals, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources oversees the taking and handling of wildlife generally. Feeding that effectively constitutes keeping a prohibited or protected wild animal could implicate those state rules. Residents concerned about nuisance wildlife should avoid leaving food that attracts animals, secure trash, and contact the City of Tuscaloosa or the state wildlife agency for guidance. Because no city feeding ban was located, this entry reflects state law and the city's general nuisance framework rather than a specific prohibition.