Pocatello, ID Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue Permits (2026)

Pocatello's wildlife-feeding ordinance, Municipal Code section 6.04.260, generally makes it unlawful to place food or other attractants anywhere in the city with the intent to lure or feed wild or habituated wildlife. Subsection C carves out eight specific exceptions to that ban, and the second is built for wildlife rescue: any authorized facilities or individuals acting pursuant to State of Idaho and City of Pocatello permits and licenses responsible or charged with the care of wildlife, such as zoos, rehab facilities, or authorized and licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

In practice that means a person or organization caring for injured or orphaned wildlife in Pocatello is exempt from the feeding ban only while operating under an active state wildlife rehabilitation permit and any corresponding city permit or license; the ordinance does not create a separate city licensing track of its own for rescues. The same subsection also exempts public employees and their agents carrying out authorized State of Idaho wildlife management plans, emergency winter feeding operations, or baiting, feeding and trapping activities within the scope of their duties, which covers Idaho Department of Fish and Game staff and contracted wildlife services responding to nuisance wildlife.

A rehabilitator operating without a current state license, or feeding wildlife outside the scope of a rescue operation, loses the exemption and is treated the same as any other resident under the general feeding prohibition.