Elyria, OH Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Section 955.06 of the Elyria Codified Ordinances opens with a limit on who can excuse conduct: "except by the authority of public officers having charge of such park." Subdivision (c)(1) then lists what no person in a City park can do to animals, reptiles or birds. The verbs are broad: hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot, or throw missiles. Frightening or teasing a bird is covered, not only killing it.

The nest rule is separate. A person cannot remove or have in possession the young of any wild animal, or the eggs, nest or young of any reptile or bird. That reaches a visitor who picks up a fallen nest or takes eggs from the grounds of Cascade Park or any other City park, since § 955.01(c) defines a park as any park, reservation, playground, beach, recreation center or other area owned or used by the City and devoted to active or passive recreation.

Section 955.09(b) backs this up from the recreation side. It bars hunting, trapping or pursuing wild life at any time in a park, and it bars firearms, air rifles, spring guns, bows and arrows, slings and trapping devices, and shooting into park areas from beyond park boundaries. Where another law is violated, the clause applies "in violation of any law," so lawful carry rules elsewhere in the code do not open the park to weapons.

The Director of Parks and Recreation and park attendants enforce the chapter under § 955.12. They can eject a violator and seize and confiscate any property, thing or device used in the violation, which would include a trap or sling. This chapter governs parks only. It is a City of Elyria ordinance enacted by City Council, and it does not apply in Elyria Township or the City of Lorain.