Volusia County and FWC prohibit feeding bears, alligators, sandhill cranes, pelicans, and foxes. FL §379.412 bans alligator feeding (2nd-degree misdemeanor). Sea turtle lighting rules under FL §161.163 also apply on coast.
Multiple Florida statutes and FWC rules apply in Volusia County. FL §379.412 makes it unlawful to feed or molest alligators, punishable as a second-degree misdemeanor. FWC Rule 68A-4.001 prohibits feeding bears, foxes, raccoons, sandhill cranes, pelicans, and other wildlife in ways that create public safety issues. Volusia County Code Ch. 14 (Animals) prohibits feeding any wild animal in a manner that attracts nuisance wildlife to a property. With black bears increasingly present in western Volusia (Deltona, DeLand, Osteen), trash must be secured in bear-resistant containers in designated Bear Management Areas. Coastal municipalities (Daytona Beach Shores, NSB, Ormond Beach) enforce sea turtle lighting restrictions under FL §161.163 during nesting season May 1-October 31, which is a form of wildlife protection closely tied to human behavior. Feeding manatees or approaching them is prohibited under the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act FL §379.2431.
Alligator feeding: 2nd-degree misdemeanor, up to 60 days jail and $500 fine per FL §379.412. FWC feeding violations: $250-$500 civil penalty. Sea turtle lighting violations: up to $500 per night per FL §161.163. Bear trash violations: $100-$500 local fine.
Volusia County, FL
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See how Volusia County's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
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