§ 4827a. Feeding bear; prohibition

(a) A person shall not knowingly feed a bear and shall not knowingly give, place, expose, deposit, distribute, or scatter any bait, food, or other edible material in a manner intended to lure a bear to feed except:

(1) under a license or permit issued under section 4152 of this title by the Commissioner for bona fide scientific research, mitigation of wildlife damage, nuisance problems, or wildlife population reduction program;

(2) by planting, cultivating, or harvesting of crops directly associated with bona fide agricultural practices, including planted wildlife food plots; or

(3) by distribution of feed material for livestock directly associated with bona fide agricultural practices.

(b) A person who has intentionally placed bait, food, or other edible material, including placing food within a bird feeder, to lure wildlife, as that term is defined to include birds and other animals under subdivision 4001(15) of this title, onto the property within the past 30 days shall be prohibited from taking a bear doing damage under the authority set forth in section 4827 of this title. The Commissioner or his or her designee may issue an order requiring a person to remove or contain the bait, food, or edible material if the placing of bait or food results in the feeding of a bear.

(c) As used in this section, "bait, food, or other edible material" means fruit, grain, salt, grease, garbage, or other materials intended to feed or lure wildlife. (Added 2013, No. 78, § 17.)