Whitmer Signs Law Easing Michigan Wildlife Feeding Restrictions

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4303 into law on Monday, July 28, 2026, modifying restrictions on feeding birds and other wildlife in Michigan. The legislation, introduced by State Representative Ken Borton, closes a legal loophole that previously allowed residents in regions with deer and elk feeding bans to face criminal charges if a deer consumed feed from a bird feeder.

Under the new law, feeding wildlife for recreational viewing or to prevent starvation is permitted if the feed is located within 300 feet of a home. Additionally, the total amount of feed left on the ground must remain under two gallons. These specific limits are intended to allow residents to engage in wildlife feeding while maintaining essential disease-control safeguards for the state's deer and elk populations.