Wildlife Feeding: El Monte vs South Gate
How do wildlife feeding rules compare between El Monte, CA and South Gate, CA?
El Monte and South Gate have similar restriction levels.
El Monte, CA
Los Angeles County
El Monte explicitly discourages feeding wildlife or strays, and LA County Code Chapter 10.84 (applied in El Monte by contract) prohibits providing food to certain rodents and predator animals. California Fish & Game law adds restrictions on trapping or relocating wildlife without a state permit.
View full El Monte rules →South Gate, CA
Los Angeles County
South Gate does not have a dedicated municipal anti-wildlife-feeding ordinance, but feeding wildlife that creates a public nuisance — attracting rats, raccoons, coyotes, opossums or feral cats — is abatable under Title 4 Animals and Chapter 7.22 Animal Control, and the resulting rodent harborage is a violation of LA County Department of Public Health rules. California Fish & Game Code §2000 and §251.1 prohibit harassment of game mammals (including by harmful feeding), and CDFW formally advises that intentionally feeding deer, bears or coyotes is illegal when it leads to depredation. SEAACA handles wildlife-attractant complaints.
View full South Gate rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | El Monte | South Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding coyotes/raccoons | Prohibited — LACC §10.84.010 | - |
| Pet food outdoors | Must not be accessible to wildlife | - |
| Trapping/relocation | Requires CDFW permit | - |
| City guidance | Secure trash, remove fallen fruit, put pet food away | - |
| Enforcement | LA County DACC + El Monte Animal Control | - |
| Local code | - | South Gate MC Ch. 7.22 Animal Control & Ch. 6 Health/Sanitation |
| State law | - | Cal. Fish & Game Code §2000 et seq. (harassment of game mammals) |
| State guidance | - | CDFW 'Keep Me Wild' — do not feed bears, coyotes, deer |
| County overlay | - | LA County Dept. of Public Health — rodent harborage / vector control |
| Trash containers | - | LA Sanitation contract — animal-proof carts required |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
El Monte FAQ
Can I leave food out for stray cats?
El Monte Animal Control discourages it because it attracts coyotes and other wildlife. Under LA County Code §10.84, leaving food in a way that attracts predator animals is a violation. Use timed feeders inside an enclosure if you participate in a TNR colony program.
There's a coyote in my yard — can I trap it?
No. El Monte's Animal Control page warns that trapping and relocating wildlife without a CDFW permit violates state law. Call LA County DACC for a nuisance response.
What about bird feeders?
Bird feeders for songbirds are generally not the target of §10.84, but if your feeder is attracting rats, raccoons or coyotes you can be cited. El Monte recommends keeping vegetation trimmed and removing fallen seed.
South Gate FAQ
Is it illegal to feed pigeons or stray cats in South Gate?
Not categorically, but if your feeding creates a sanitary nuisance — accumulating droppings, attracting rats, or sustaining an unmanaged feral-cat colony — SEAACA and LA County Public Health can order it stopped under South Gate MC Chapter 7.22 and Chapter 6.
Can I keep bird feeders?
Yes, hummingbird and songbird feeders maintained sanitarily are not prohibited. Clean spilled seed daily, keep feeders away from neighbor fences, and remove the feeder if it begins attracting rats — which is a Chapter 7.22 nuisance.
Are coyotes a real concern in South Gate?
Coyotes do range through urban LA County. CDFW guidance — and Cal. Fish & Game Code §2000 — discourage feeding coyotes because habituated coyotes become a public-safety threat. Do not leave pet food outside, and secure trash.
Who do I call about a wildlife-attractant problem?
SEAACA at 562-803-3301 for animal complaints; LA County Department of Public Health for rodent harborage; CDFW for sick or dangerous wildlife.
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