Wildlife Feeding: Chino vs Hesperia
How do wildlife feeding rules compare between Chino, CA and Hesperia, CA?
Hesperia has fewer restrictions than Chino.
Chino, CA
San Bernardino County
Chino's WUI boundary touches the Puente-Chino Hills wildlife corridor and Chino Hills State Park, where coyotes, bobcats, mule deer, and mountain lions routinely move through neighborhoods. California 14 CCR §251.3 prohibits intentional feeding of big-game mammals (deer, elk, bear, etc.) statewide. Locally, Chino Title 8 (Health & Safety) addresses food sources that attract wildlife as a public nuisance, and intentional coyote feeding is generally treated as a nuisance/code violation.
View full Chino rules →Hesperia, CA
San Bernardino County
Hesperia Municipal Code does not contain a stand-alone ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife. The City's Wild Animals page warns residents about Mojave rattlesnakes, mountain lions, Africanized bees and mosquitoes and directs nuisance-wildlife complaints to Animal Control (760) 947-1700, but it does not impose a feeding ban. State law fills the gap: California Fish & Game Code §4150 makes it unlawful to harass non-game mammals (which includes feeding that habituates them), and 14 CCR §251.1 prohibits harassing wildlife in a manner that disrupts their normal behavior. Feeding bears, mountain lions and coyotes is specifically discouraged by CDFW because it creates public-safety hazards subject to depredation permits or destruction under §4181.
View full Hesperia rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chino | Hesperia |
|---|---|---|
| State big-game feeding ban | 14 CCR §251.3 — intentional feeding of deer, bear, mountain sheep, etc. prohibited | - |
| Local nuisance backstop | Chino Mun. Code Title 8 — attractive nuisance / vector control | - |
| Wildlife corridor | Puente-Chino Hills corridor and Chino Hills State Park border Chino — coyote/bobcat/deer activity routine | - |
| Mountain lions | Specially Protected Mammal — Cal. Fish & Game Code §4800 | - |
| Local feeding ban | - | None in Hesperia Municipal Code |
| State authority | - | Cal. Fish & Game Code §4150; 14 CCR §251.1 |
| High-desert hazards | - | Mojave rattlesnake, mountain lion, coyote, Africanized bees |
| Animal Control contact | - | (760) 947-1700 |
| Depredation authority | - | Fish & Game Code §4181 (CDFW) |
| Nuisance attractants on private property | - | Hesperia Title 8 property-maintenance |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chino FAQ
Is it legal to feed deer in Chino?
No. California 14 CCR §251.3 prohibits intentional feeding of deer and other big-game mammals statewide, with no Chino-specific exception.
Can I feed coyotes that come through my yard?
Strongly discouraged and likely a Chino Title 8 nuisance violation. CDFW warns coyote feeding leads to habituation and aggressive behavior, and Chino code enforcement can abate the food source.
What about backyard bird feeders?
Bird feeders for songbirds are generally allowed, but if they attract rodents, bears, or coyotes — or if neighbors complain of vermin — code enforcement can order them removed under Title 8 vector and nuisance rules.
Hesperia FAQ
Is it illegal to feed coyotes in Hesperia?
There is no specific Hesperia ordinance, but feeding that habituates non-game mammals can be charged under Cal. Fish & Game Code §4150 / 14 CCR §251.1 and creates a public-safety hazard.
Can I have a bird feeder?
Yes — songbird feeders are not regulated. Avoid attractants that draw bears, coyotes or rats; messy seed accumulations can become a property-nuisance issue under Title 8.
What about feeding feral cats?
Hesperia's animal-control rules do not ban feeding feral cats, but maintaining a colony may trigger licensing/spay-neuter obligations in Title 6 (e.g., §6.04.010 licensing).
What if a mountain lion or bear is in my neighborhood?
Call Hesperia Animal Control (760) 947-1700 or CDFW. Do not feed it — that can lead to a §4181 depredation order against the animal.
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