Wildlife Feeding: Hesperia vs Rancho Cucamonga
How do wildlife feeding rules compare between Hesperia, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA?
Hesperia has fewer restrictions than Rancho Cucamonga.
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 →Rancho Cucamonga, CA
San Bernardino County
Rancho Cucamonga prohibits intentional feeding of coyotes and wildlife that creates a nuisance. Etiwanda and Alta Loma foothills are active coyote and bobcat corridors.
View full Rancho Cucamonga rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Hesperia | Rancho Cucamonga |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Prohibited | - | Intentional feeding of coyotes, bears, deer |
| High-Risk Areas | - | Alta Loma and Etiwanda foothills |
| State Agency | - | CDFW backs enforcement |
| Approach | - | Haze, don't feed |
| Fine | - | Starts at $100 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
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.
Rancho Cucamonga FAQ
Can I feed the deer or coyotes in Alta Loma?
No. Intentional wildlife feeding is prohibited because it creates habituation and public safety risk, especially in the foothill neighborhoods near the wildland-urban interface.
What about bird feeders?
Bird feeders are allowed if they don't attract rodents, raccoons, or coyotes. If your feeder causes a wildlife nuisance, Code Enforcement may ask you to remove it.
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