Connecticut § 26-25a Regulation of feeding of wildlife on state-owned property. Intentional feeding of potentially dangerous animals on private property. Prohibition. Regulations. More restrictive municipal ordinances.

Connecticut Statutes

§ 26-25a — Regulation of feeding of wildlife on state-owned property. Intentional feeding of potentially dangerous animals on private property. Prohibition. Regulations. More restrictive municipal ordinances.

Connecticut § 26-25a

Title 26Fisheries and Game

This text of Connecticut § 26-25a (Regulation of feeding of wildlife on state-owned property. Intentional feeding of potentially dangerous animals on private property. Prohibition. Regulations. More restrictive municipal ordinances.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 26-25a (2026).

Text

(a)(1) For purposes of this section:

(A)“Intentionally feed” means to place, provide, give, expose, deposit, scatter or distribute any edible material or attractant with the intent of feeding, attracting or enticing potentially dangerous animals.

(B)“Potentially dangerous animal” means any of the following:

(i)The felidae, including, but not limited to, bobcat;

(ii)the canidae, including, but not limited to, coyote and fox; and (iii) the ursidae, including, but not limited to, black bear. “Potentially dangerous animal” does not include any:

(I)Domestic cat or dog, or (II) animal under the care, custody or control of any zoo or wildlife facility.

(2)No person shall intentionally feed any potentially dangerous animal on any land that is not owned by the state.

(3)The provisions of thi

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(a)(1) For purposes of this section: (A) “Intentionally feed” means to place, provide, give, expose, deposit, scatter or distribute any edible material or attractant with the intent of feeding, attracting or enticing potentially dangerous animals. (B) “Potentially dangerous animal” means any of the following: (i) The felidae, including, but not limited to, bobcat; (ii) the canidae, including, but not limited to, coyote and fox; and (iii) the ursidae, including, but not limited to, black bear. “Potentially dangerous animal” does not include any: (I) Domestic cat or dog, or (II) animal under the care, custody or control of any zoo or wildlife facility. (2) No person shall intentionally feed any potentially dangerous animal on any land that is not owned by the state. (3) The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to apply to: (A) Composting at facilities authorized pursuant to section 22a-208a or 22a-430 , provided best management practices are used to mitigate the attraction of any potentially dangerous animal, (B) small-scale composting operations, (C) the composting of agricultural waste, (D) the disposal of agricultural mortalities, or (E) agriculture, farming or aquaculture. (4) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection. (5) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 prohibiting or restricting the feeding of wildlife on state-owned property. Such regulations shall include, but not be limited to, procedures for designating areas subject to such prohibitions or restrictions. Any such designation shall be effective after public notice and a public comment period. (b) Any conservation officer appointed pursuant to section 26-5 and any other officer authorized to serve criminal process may enforce the provisions of this section and any regulations adopted pursuant to this section. Any violation of this section or any such regulations shall be an infraction. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any municipal ordinance that is more restrictive than the provisions of this section concerning the intentional feeding of wildlife on land that is not owned by the state shall not be preempted by the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.

Legislative History

(P.A. 87-546; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 23-77, S. 3.) History: Pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 23-77 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (1) re definitions of “intentionally feed” and “potentially dangerous animal”, Subdiv. (2) re prohibition on intentionally feeding potentially dangerous animals on private property, Subdiv. (3) re exemptions from such prohibition, Subdiv. (4) re authorization for regulations to implement Subsec. (a), and redesignated existing Subsec. (a) as Subdiv. (5), amended Subsec. (b) to make technical changes and added Subsec. (c) re municipal ordinances that are more restrictive concerning intentional feeding of potentially dangerous animals on private property.