Board Approves Ordinance to Prohibit Unlawful Feeding of Wildlife
Published on November 20, 2025
Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Approves Ordinance
to Prohibit Unlawful Feeding of Wildlife
Yavapai County, AZ – The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors has officially approved Ordinance 2025-14, a measure designed to prohibit the unlawful feeding of wildlife within the unincorporated areas of Yavapai County. This decision aligns the County with state safety standards and aims to mitigate the rising number of dangerous interactions between residents and wild animals.
While the State of Arizona previously adopted A.R.S. § 13-2927, which prohibits wildlife feeding in counties with populations exceeding 280,000, Yavapai County required local action to enact similar protections. By adopting this ordinance, the Board ensures that these vital safety regulations now apply specifically to Yavapai County unincorporated communities.
Why This Ordinance Matters: The decision comes following increased wildlife sightings and confrontations in residential and urban zones throughout the County. The intentional feeding of wild animals has been identified as a primary driver of these conflicts.
The Board emphasizes that this ordinance is intended to protect both human residents and the wildlife population.
- Public Safety: Feeding attracts wildlife into neighborhoods, increasing the risk of physical attacks on humans and pets.
- Property Protection: Familiarized animals are more likely to cause damage to homes, landscaping, and vehicles.
- Animal Welfare: When wild animals rely on human food sources, they lose their natural fear of humans. This often leads to the animal being deemed a "nuisance" or threat, which frequently results in the animal having to be euthanized.
Enforcement and Cooperation: The ordinance is expected to be enforced primarily by the Arizona Game & Fish Department, which has the specialized training and resources to manage wildlife issues. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has reviewed the ordinance and expressed no concerns regarding its form or implementation.
Residents are encouraged to secure trash, remove pet food from outdoor areas, and refrain from intentionally putting out food that attracts wildlife such as javelina, coyotes, bears, and mountain lions.
Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Chair Mary Mallory stated, “We all enjoy the natural beauty and wildlife of Yavapai County, but we must appreciate it responsibly. This ordinance is necessary to prevent dangerous familiarization. By stopping the unlawful feeding of wildlife, we are protecting our neighborhoods and ensuring that our local wildlife remains wild and safe.”
For the full text of Ordinance 2025-14, please visit YavapaiAZ.GOV.