Wildlife Feeding: Hesperia vs San Bernardino
How do wildlife feeding rules compare between Hesperia, CA and San Bernardino, CA?
Hesperia has fewer restrictions than San Bernardino.
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 →San Bernardino, CA
San Bernardino County
Feeding wildlife in San Bernardino is discouraged and often prohibited under nuisance and public-health rules. Coyotes, bears, and mountain lions from the San Bernardino foothills can be drawn into neighborhoods.
View full San Bernardino rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Hesperia | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Code | - | SBMC 8.30 nuisance |
| State Reference | - | CDFW policy discourages feeding |
| Common Issues | - | Coyotes, bears, raccoons |
| Best Practice | - | No pet food outside overnight |
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.
San Bernardino FAQ
Can I feed deer in my yard?
Feeding deer is strongly discouraged and can be cited as a nuisance because it draws mountain lions and coyotes into neighborhoods.
Are bird feeders allowed?
Generally yes, but poorly maintained feeders can draw rats and raccoons and then be treated as a nuisance.
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