Why Tourists in Washington Keep Getting Ticketed for Feeding Squirrels

I love watching squirrels zip around a park, but in Washington that cute moment can turn costly. Rules here look simple at first, yet they shift by location and situation. I dug into the current laws and recent changes so you can keep your trip stress free. Stick with me and you will avoid the tickets that keep surprising visitors every season.

1. Key legal rules you didn’t know exist

Let me start with the rule that trips up the most visitors. Under regulation WAC 352-32-01001, it is prohibited to intentionally feed, attract, or artificially sustain wildlife in state park areas. Rangers can cite violations, but they usually start with education before issuing tickets. The rule covers all indigenous wildlife, so size does not matter. If you feed a squirrel in a Washington state park, you commit an infraction.

I have met travelers who thought a single peanut would not count. It does. The rule exists to keep animals wild and people safe. Washington State Legislature pages also outline RCW 77.15.790. That law penalizes negligent feeding of large wild carnivores or attracting them to land or buildings. A careless snack for small animals can draw bigger animals over time.

As of May 17, 2025, WDFW banned feeding deer, elk, and moose, and feeding other wildlife if it causes them to congregate. Many local ordinances add their own layers, as MRSC notes. Signs vary by park and city, so confusion rises. If you see a squirrel in a state park, keep your snacks packed and your hands to yourself.

2. Park signs that tourists skim past

I notice many visitors glance at trailhead boards and then head straight for the picnic table. The problem is simple. Regulations live on those signs, often in small print or mixed with trail closures and fire updates. In Washington parks, WAC 352-32-01001 bans feeding wildlife, and rangers expect you to read posted rules. If you hand a cracker to a squirrel near a signboard, you basically admitted you did not check the board.

Tourists often say the sign looked general. It still applies to the entire park. Local ordinances add more context-specific rules that MRSC tracks. You might see city rules around lakes and greenbelts that target feeding because of nuisance and disease concerns. A spot that feels casual often has strict guidelines.

I slow down at each kiosk, scan for wildlife language, and take a photo for reference. That habit keeps me from missing recent updates or seasonal notices. Clear expectations help you avoid a ticket. Treat every sign as essential, even if you only plan a short walk to watch the squirrels hop across the path.

3. Small snacks that trigger big problems

Handing a peanut to a squirrel feels harmless, but that snack can spark bigger issues you never see. RCW 77.15.790 focuses on negligent feeding that attracts large wild carnivores to land or buildings. The WDFW rule adopted on May 17, 2025 also bans feeding deer, elk, and moose, plus any feeding that causes wildlife to congregate.

When you draw squirrels to a picnic area, you can leave crumbs or scent that pulls in other animals. That includes species you did not plan for. Washington treats this chain reaction seriously, which is why you may see citations even if only a squirrel took the food. Managers look at outcomes, not intentions. If feeding increases gatherings, the risk rises for disease and conflict, so enforcement steps in.

I watch visitors laugh as ten squirrels swarm a table, and I cringe. Dense clusters make people nervous and tempt bolder behavior from the animals. Keep food sealed and eat away from active burrows. Clean up every crumb. If you reduce smell and access, you reduce attention from the entire neighborhood of wildlife, not just the spry little foragers nearby.

4. Health and safety risks that officials monitor

Public agencies track disease and injury risk around feeding sites. APHIS guidance explains how feeding wildlife disrupts natural foraging and can spread disease when animals crowd. I have watched squirrels cluster under a single bench for dropped snacks. Close contact raises transmission potential within the group and between animals and humans. That pattern also heightens boldness.

A squirrel that expects food may nip at fingers or jump onto bags. Washington land managers weigh these public health factors when they write and enforce rules. Local governments in Washington echo the concerns. MRSC notes municipalities adopt ordinances to curb nuisance behavior and reduce safety issues. Rangers and officers focus on hotspots where tourists gather.

They prefer education, but they will cite repeat or obvious violations, especially near playgrounds and picnic shelters. Keep a healthy buffer. Observe with your camera, not your trail mix. By staying hands off, you protect yourself and the animals. That choice also supports stable park operations. Staff can then spend more time on habitat work and less time handling avoidable encounters caused by handouts.

5. Confusing patchwork of local rules

Travelers jump between different jurisdictions in a single afternoon. That is where confusion starts. Washington has statewide rules for parks and wildlife, but cities and counties add their own ordinances. MRSC compiles many of these local codes. You might leave a state park, cross into a city greenway, and still face a feeding prohibition. Signs change, wording shifts, and visitors misread the boundaries.

I keep a list of the places I plan to visit and search each site’s rules before I go. Enforcement reflects this patchwork. Park rangers handle state parks, while city staff or police handle municipal parks. WDFW officers step in around wildlife areas and issues that involve larger species. The net effect is consistent.

Feeding attracts animals and creates management headaches, so you will see officers write tickets. When you enter a new area, take a minute to reset your assumptions. Look for a fresh set of posted rules. That habit will save you time and money, and it will keep your day smooth. Washington rewards the visitor who does a quick rules check before unpacking a snack.

6. When bird feeders become a gray area

Visitors sometimes rent a cabin and hang a small feeder, then act surprised when wildlife piles in. Under the 2025 WDFW rule, feeding that causes wildlife to congregate can violate policy. The language calls out bait and salt blocks for deer, elk, and moose. If your setup spills seed or fruit on the ground, it can draw squirrels, raccoons, and even larger animals.

On private or residential land, rules vary. But if your feeding attracts bigger wildlife or creates a public safety issue, you can still face trouble. I treat any feeder as a potential attractant that needs strict housekeeping. Use catch trays, clean fallen seed, and take down feeders if larger species show up. Consider high-quality seed that produces fewer hulls on the ground.

If wildlife starts clustering, remove the food source fast. Washington agencies look at real outcomes, not labels on the feeder. If your goal is to watch birds, step up habitat instead, like native plants that provide natural forage. You enjoy wildlife while staying within the spirit of the rules and keeping squirrels from escalating a small plan into a visit from enforcement.

7. Urban parks where habits collide

City parks feel casual, so travelers relax and share a snack with the local squirrels. That is where citations happen. Urban squirrels learn fast and approach people directly. APHIS notes how feeding changes behavior and encourages boldness. In Washington cities, local ordinances often prohibit feeding wildlife to prevent nuisance and protect landscaping.

Staff respond to complaint patterns. When animals swarm benches and dig up beds, enforcement rises. I see visitors assume that city space means lighter rules. The opposite is often true where foot traffic stays high. Look for quiet places to observe without interacting. Keep food in sealed bags, and eat away from habitual squirrel routes. If a squirrel approaches, back away and avoid eye-level hand gestures that look like an offer.

Use your lens, not your palm, to get that close-up. The result feels better for everyone. The animals keep healthy boundaries. You keep your day simple and your record clean. Washington’s cities want parks that feel welcoming, so they clamp down on behaviors that shift wildlife patterns toward people. Respect that goal and you will avoid awkward run-ins.

8. A smarter way to enjoy squirrels

I still enjoy squirrel watching on every trip. I just changed my habits. I keep snacks packed and use a longer lens for photos. I pick viewing spots away from picnic areas and food waste. If I enter a Washington state park, I remember WAC 352-32-01001 bans feeding wildlife. I also keep RCW 77.15.790 in mind because attractants for larger species can start small.

Since May 17, 2025, WDFW rules target any feeding that causes congregations, along with bans on feeding deer, elk, and moose. Add local ordinances from MRSC listings and the safe path becomes clear. Here is my routine. Read each sign. Pack out crumbs. Store food inside sealed containers. Skip the handout shot and go for behavior photos that tell a story.

If I see animals cluster, I move on. That simple plan reduces risk, supports healthier wildlife, and keeps my trip on track. Washington rewards thoughtful visitors. You will come home with better photos and no ticket, and the squirrels will keep acting like squirrels instead of tiny beggars at the bench.