Maine state law: bear baiting and wildlife-feeding restrictions (12 MRS § 12404)

Per 12 MRS § 12404, it is unlawful to intentionally place, deposit, or distribute bait to attract bear except in compliance with rules adopted by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) for the regulated hunting season. Maine wildlife-feeding regulation is administered by IF&W under 12 MRS Title 12 and 09-137 CMR Chapter 5. IF&W rules prohibit feeding deer in any manner that creates a nuisance or interferes with public safety, and may prohibit feeding entirely in chronic-wasting-disease (CWD) management zones. Feeding bears — including incidental attraction via accessible trash, pet food left outdoors, or bird feeders maintained during the active bear season (April 1-November 30) — may be enforced as nuisance attraction. Maine has no statewide bear-resistant trash container mandate; coastal and mountain municipalities, including portions of Cumberland County and Mount Desert Island, supplement state law with local bear-resistant container ordinances under 30-A § 3001 home-rule authority. Feeding moose, foxes, coyotes, and raccoons is similarly discouraged by IF&W and may be cited as nuisance attraction depending on the circumstance.

Illegal bear baiting under 12 MRS § 12404 is a Class E crime with fines and potential loss of hunting privileges. Nuisance wildlife-feeding violations carry civil penalties under IF&W rules. Municipal bear-resistant container ordinance violations (where adopted) are typical civil infractions with $50-$500 fines.