If you have ever wondered whether that finch feeder hanging from your porch could get you in legal trouble, you are not alone. Feeding wild birds laws in Maryland are more nuanced than a simple yes-or-no answer, especially once waterfowl, bears, and homeowners associations enter the picture.
Backyard bird feeding is one of the most common wildlife hobbies in the state, but Maryland treats different birds, locations, and feeding methods very differently under the law. Here is what actually applies to you, section by section, before you fill that feeder again.
Is It Legal to Feed Wild Birds in Maryland
Yes, in most circumstances. Feeding wildlife is not illegal in Maryland, unless you are baiting certain game species while hunting. Putting out bird feeders rarely causes wildlife conflicts, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Wild Acres program.
That said, Maryland’s wild bird protections work in a specific direction. Under the Natural Resources Article, a person may not hunt, destroy, or possess in any manner any wild bird within the State whether killed in the State or in any other state, territory, or country, except for unprotected birds and game birds hunted during open season. This statute is designed to stop people from harming or capturing wild birds, not to restrict backyard feeding, so setting out seed, suet, or nectar for songbirds falls outside its scope…