301 Ky. Admin. Regs. 2:015

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 4, October 1, 2024

Section 301 KAR 2:015 - Feeding of wildlife

RELATES TO: KRS 150.015

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.015 requires the department to protect and conserve the wildlife of this Commonwealth. KRS 150.025(1)(h) authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the provisions of KRS Chapter 150. This administrative regulation establishes restrictions on the feeding of wildlife that will serve to protect wildlife from disease and toxic substances that could cause harm to the wildlife population if left unregulated.

Section 1. Definitions.

(1) "Captivity" means confinement by fence or other structure, or restraint intended to prevent escape.

(2) "Curtilage of the home" means the area encompassing the grounds immediately surrounding any home or group of homes used in the daily activities of domestic life, and:

(a) Might or might not be enclosed by a fence or other barrier; and

(b) Includes areas occupied by captive cervids as established in 301 KAR 2:083 and wildlife held in captivity for rehabilitation purposes as established in 301 KAR 2:075 or held in captivity as established in 301 KAR 2:081 and 301 KAR 2:082.

(3) "Feeding":

(a) Means willingly, wantonly, or knowingly depositing, distributing, or scattering of shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, millet, milo, safflower seed, sunflower seed, thistle, wheat, or other grain or any manufactured feed or food product to be consumed by wildlife; and

(b) Does not mean the establishment and maintenance of plantings for wildlife, foods found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural planting practices or harvesting practices, foods available to wildlife through normal agricultural practices of livestock feeding if the areas are occupied by livestock actively consuming the feed on a daily basis, or standing farm crops under normal agricultural practices.

Section 2. Recreational Feeding of Wildlife.

(1) Wildlife shall not be fed from March 1 through July 31, except as established in subsections (2) and (3) of this section.

(2) Wildlife may only be fed year-round:

(a) In public areas not open to legal hunting or trapping, unless otherwise prohibited by statute, administrative regulation, or municipal ordinance;

(b) Within the curtilage of the home; and

(c) In a zoo or other facility that lawfully keeps or exhibits wildlife for rehabilitation, rescue, or public viewing.

(3) Fish may be fed year-round.

Section 3. Chronic Wasting Disease. In a department-designated Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Zone or Management Zone county, established on the department's Web site at fw.ky.gov, persons shall not bait or feed using grain, salt, mineral, or other ingested attractants, except:

(1) Normal agricultural practices;

(2) Wildlife food plots or plantings;

(3) Bird feeders within the curtilage of the home; and

(4) Furbearer trapping, except that trappers shall not use grain, salt, or mineral.

301 KAR 2:015

33 Ky.R. 1215; Am. 1523; eff. 12-7-2006; 34 Ky.R. 2220; eff. 6-6-2008; 35 Ky.R. 999; eff. 1-5-2009; 48 Ky.R. 133; 1730; eff. 3-1-2022; 49 Ky.R. 1144; eff. 2/2/2023; 49 Ky.R. 1818, 2284; eff. 6/8/2023.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 150.025