Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but its deer feeding regulations are among the clearest and most far-reaching in New England. If you have spotted white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing through your backyard in Providence, Cranston, or the rural towns of Zone 2 and wondered whether you could leave out a little corn or apples, the short answer is no — and the prohibition applies whether you are a homeowner, a hunter, or anyone in between.
Understanding exactly what the law covers, what limited exceptions exist, and why the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) enforces this rule so broadly can help you stay on the right side of state regulations and make better decisions for the wildlife around you.
Is It Illegal to Feed Deer in Rhode Island?
Feeding wildlife is illegal in Rhode Island and harmful. This is not a narrow hunting regulation — it applies to any person who deliberately provides food to wild deer, regardless of the time of year or their intent. The DEM has been consistent in its public guidance on this point, and the prohibition is backed by formal state regulation.
Feeding and baiting wildlife in the state of Rhode Island is not permitted at any time for any purposes except as defined in RIHR 9.17.J. That language — “at any time for any purposes” — means there is no seasonal window, no backyard exception, and no “just this once” allowance for well-meaning residents who want to help deer through a hard winter…