Residents Can Legally Feed Wildlife Under New Bill

A new law now allows people in Michigan's Lower Peninsula to once again feed wildlife and birds for recreational viewing, but it does not reinstate the use of bait piles for deer hunting.

Why Was Feeding Wildlife Banned in Michigan in 2018?

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Feeding birds and backyard wildlife in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula did not completely end. However, in late 2018 and 2019, the state implemented strict restrictions on feeding and baiting deer and elk to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) and bovine tuberculosis (TB).

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Officials were concerned deer could access seed from standard bird feeders, creating confusion for homeowners and potential legal consequences if deer were found feeding beneath them..

Read More: Huge Michigan Hunting Expansion Adds More Public Acres

Baiting for deer and elk was previously prohibited, but the new bill could open the door for these practices to return in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

New Bill Allows People to Feed Wildlife and Birds

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently signed several animal welfare bills aimed at protecting animals and expanding support for animal shelters. Among them was a measure affecting the Lower Peninsula that changes the rules for bird feeders and recreational wildlife feeding.

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According to Michigan.gov, the new law expands wildlife and bird-feeding permissions for recreational viewing, allowing individuals to place up to two gallons of feed within 300 feet of a residence.

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Michigan has not yet reinstated deer baiting in the Lower Peninsula, however, lawmakers have approved a bill that would lift the ban. If Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs the legislation into law, deer hunters could once again be allowed to use bait during the 2027 deer season.

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