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Watsonville, CA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified October 2026

Key Facts

Where it applies: All City of Watsonville parks and public facilities
Foods named: Breads, seeds, nuts or other foods
Animals covered: Domestic and nondomestic animals
Toxic substances: Giving or offering any known noxious or toxic substance is barred
Related rule: No hunting, chasing, teasing or taking nests, eggs or young
Penalty framework: Chapter 1-2 penalties plus possible exclusion for repeat violations

Summary

In the City of Watsonville, California, no one can feed domestic or nondomestic animals any food in a City park or public facility, including breads, seeds and nuts. The same section bars hunting, chasing, teasing or frightening animals and taking nests, eggs or young.

The following conduct is prohibited in all parks and public facilities, unless otherwise permitted by the City: ... (e) Hunting Animals. No person may hunt, molest, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw anything at any animal; nor shall any person remove or have in possession the young of any animal, or the eggs or nest or young of animals; ... (g) Feeding Nondomestic Animals. No person may feed domestic or nondomestic animals any food, including breads, seeds, nuts or other foods, or give or offer, or attempt to give, any known noxious or toxic substance as may cause unintentional harm, illness, or death;

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Full Breakdown

Section 10-1.050(g) of the Watsonville Municipal Code, headed Feeding Nondomestic Animals, applies in all parks and public facilities in the City of Watsonville, California, in Santa Cruz County, unless the City otherwise permits the conduct. Its text is wider than its heading: no person may feed domestic or nondomestic animals any food, including breads, seeds, nuts or other foods. The same sentence also prohibits giving, offering, or attempting to give any known noxious or toxic substance as may cause unintentional harm, illness, or death. The rule covers a park, playground, open space area, trail, or other City-owned or City-used recreation ground, including parking lots built directly in and around a park, skate parks and bicycle pump tracks, as defined in 10-1.010(h), and it covers public buildings and public parking facilities as defined in 10-1.010(l) and (n).

Paragraph (e) of the same section reaches further into wildlife: no person may hunt, molest, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw anything at any animal, or remove or possess the young of any animal or the eggs or nest or young of animals. Paragraph (o) bars leaving refuse, which the code defines in 10-1.010(o) to include food waste, on park grounds, and requires refuse to go in the proper receptacles where they are provided. Paragraph (f) requires any animal in a park to be under proper control by its owner or attendant, and 10-1.060(a) prohibits unleashing a dog except in areas provided for that purpose and posted.

At Pinto Lake, 10-1.060(c)(1) permits dogs only on a leash. The City Manager has authority under 10-1.040 to take any action, including policies or procedures, to administer the chapter.

Violations & Fines

Section 10-1.170 makes any violation of Chapter 10-1 unlawful, subject to the penalties in Chapter 1-2 and financial responsibility for any damage caused. Under 1-2.01 a Code violation is an infraction with a fine of not more than $500, and each day is a separate offense. Section 1-2.08 adds a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 per violation. For subsequent violations within any consecutive twelve (12) month period, the City Manager can order the violator excluded from any park or public facility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I feed ducks or birds at a Watsonville park?

No. Section 10-1.050(g) says no person may feed domestic or nondomestic animals any food, including breads, seeds, nuts or other foods, in any City park or public facility. The prohibition applies unless the City otherwise permits the conduct, and the code lists no separate exception for birds or waterfowl.

Does the feeding ban cover stray cats and dogs?

Yes. The text reaches domestic animals as well as nondomestic ones, so feeding a stray cat or dog inside a City park or public facility is covered, even though the heading says Feeding Nondomestic Animals. The rule applies on park and public facility grounds, not on private property elsewhere in the City of Watsonville.

What else does Watsonville prohibit regarding park animals?

Section 10-1.050(e) bars hunting, molesting, frightening, killing, trapping, chasing, teasing, shooting or throwing anything at any animal, and bars removing the young, eggs or nests of animals. Paragraph (f) requires animals to be under proper control, and 10-1.060(a) limits unleashed dogs to areas provided and posted for that purpose.

How is a park feeding violation penalized?

Section 10-1.170 applies the Chapter 1-2 penalties and holds the violator financially responsible for damage. Under 1-2.01 an infraction carries a fine of not more than $500, and 1-2.08 allows civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation. Repeat violators within twelve months can be excluded from parks and public facilities by the City Manager.

Sources & Official References

[1]Watsonville Municipal Code (Code Publishing)

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