Negligently feeding, attempting to feed, or attracting large wild carnivores to land or a building — Infraction.
RCW 77.15.790
in effect(1) A person may not negligently feed or attempt to feed large wild carnivores or negligently attract large wild carnivores to land or a building. (2) If a fish and wildlife officer, ex officio fish and wildlife officer, or animal control authority, as defined in RCW 16.30.010 , has probable cause to believe that a person is negligently feeding, attempting to feed, or attracting large wild carnivores to land or a building by placing or locating food, food waste, or other substance in, on, or about any land or building, and the food, food waste, or other substance poses a risk to the safety of any person, livestock, or pet because it is attracting or could attract large wild carnivores to the land or building, that person commits an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW. (3) Subsection (2) of this section does not apply to: (a) A person who is engaging in forest practices in accordance with chapter 76.09 RCW or in hunting or trapping wildlife in accordance with all other applicable provisions of this title or rules of the commission or the director; (b) A person who is engaging in a farming or ranching operation that is using generally accepted farming or ranching practices consistent with Titles 15 and 16 RCW; (c) Waste disposal facilities that are operating in accordance with applicable federal, state, and municipal laws; (d) Entities listed in RCW 16.30.020 (1) (a) through (j) and scientific collection permit holders; or (e) A fish and wildlife officer or employee or agent of the department operating under the authority of or upon request from an officer conducting authorized wildlife capture activities to address a threat to human safety or a wildlife interaction as defined in RCW 77.36.010 . (4) For persons and entities listed in subsection (3) of this section, a fish and wildlife officer, ex officio fish and wildlife officer, or animal control authority, as defined in RCW 16.30.010 , may issue a written warning to the person or entity if: (a) The officer or animal control authority can articulate facts to support that the person or entity has placed or is responsible for placing food, food waste, or other substance in, on, or about the person's or entity's land or buildings; and (b) The food, food waste, or other substance poses a risk to the safety of any person, livestock, or pet because the food, food waste, or other substance is attracting or could attract large wild carnivores to the land or buildings. (5)(a) Any written warning issued under subsection (4) of this section requires the person or entity placing or otherwise responsible for placing the food, food waste, or other substance to contain, move, or remove that food, food waste, or other substance within two days. (b) If a person who is issued a written warning under (a) of this subsection fails to contain, move, or remove the food, food waste, or other substance as directed, the person commits an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.
(1) A person may not negligently feed or attempt to feed large wild carnivores or negligently attract large wild carnivores to land or a building.
(2) If a fish and wildlife officer, ex officio fish and wildlife officer, or animal control authority, as defined in RCW 16.30.010 , has probable cause to believe that a person is negligently feeding, attempting to feed, or attracting large wild carnivores to land or a building by placing or locating food, food waste, or other substance in, on, or about any land or building, and the food, food waste, or other substance poses a risk to the safety of any person, livestock, or pet because it is attracting or could attract large wild carnivores to the land or building, that person commits an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.
(3) Subsection (2) of this section does not apply to:
(a) A person who is engaging in forest practices in accordance with chapter 76.09 RCW or in hunting or trapping wildlife in accordance with all other applicable provisions of this title or rules of the commission or the director;
(b) A person who is engaging in a farming or ranching operation that is using generally accepted farming or ranching practices consistent with Titles 15 and 16 RCW;
(c) Waste disposal facilities that are operating in accordance with applicable federal, state, and municipal laws;
(d) Entities listed in RCW 16.30.020 (1) (a) through (j) and scientific collection permit holders; or
(e) A fish and wildlife officer or employee or agent of the department operating under the authority of or upon request from an officer conducting authorized wildlife capture activities to address a threat to human safety or a wildlife interaction as defined in RCW 77.36.010 .
(4) For persons and entities listed in subsection (3) of this section, a fish and wildlife officer, ex officio fish and wildlife officer, or animal control authority, as defined in RCW 16.30.010 , may issue a written warning to the person or entity if:
(a) The officer or animal control authority can articulate facts to support that the person or entity has placed or is responsible for placing food, food waste, or other substance in, on, or about the person's or entity's land or buildings; and
(b) The food, food waste, or other substance poses a risk to the safety of any person, livestock, or pet because the food, food waste, or other substance is attracting or could attract large wild carnivores to the land or buildings.
(5)(a) Any written warning issued under subsection (4) of this section requires the person or entity placing or otherwise responsible for placing the food, food waste, or other substance to contain, move, or remove that food, food waste, or other substance within two days.
(b) If a person who is issued a written warning under (a) of this subsection fails to contain, move, or remove the food, food waste, or other substance as directed, the person commits an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026