Oregon Wildlife Feeding: Attractant Removal and Local Bans

ORS 496.731 lets the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife give a property owner written notice to remove food or other attractants drawing potentially habituated wildlife such as deer, elk, or bears; failing to comply can trigger enforcement and removal. There is no statewide statute banning residential wildlife feeding outright. Cities such as Ashland have adopted local feeding prohibitions that carry their own penalties. Separately, ODFW hunting rules bar using bait, salt, or feed to attract game animals during hunting seasons. ORS 496.012 gives ODFW its general wildlife-management authority.

Ignoring an ODFW attractant-removal notice under ORS 496.731, or violating a local feeding ordinance or a hunting baiting rule, can bring citations, fines, and orders to remove the attractant.