Hamden, CT Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Chapter 95 of the Hamden Code of Ordinances sets aside the town's Brooksvale Recreation Park as protected habitat. Section 95.01 designates the park area a wildlife area, bird sanctuary and recreation area. Section 95.02(A) makes it unlawful for anyone to trap, hunt, shoot, attempt to shoot or molest in any manner any bird or any animal within the park. A narrow exception in § 95.02(B) allows destruction of starlings, jays, English sparrows or predatory animals like wildcat or fox only when qualified authorities declare them a public nuisance or menace to health or property and the Legislative Council is informed; even then, trapping or killing is a last resort to be used only if Audubon societies, bird clubs, garden clubs or humane societies cannot find a satisfactory alternative.

Section 95.03 clarifies the ban does not stop the town itself from constructing, reconstructing, leveling or cutting trees to develop the park for recreational purposes, and § 95.04 makes violation of §§ 95.01 through 95.06 a separate offense. The related Town Green District sections (95.05 to 95.07) apply the same wildlife-habitat and bird-sanctuary designation to roughly 79 acres at Meadowbrook and Meadowbrook South, reserving at least 20 acres as permanent habitat. Enforcement at Brooksvale falls to the Hamden Police Department; anyone who traps, hunts or shoots a bird or animal within the designated area, without qualifying for the narrow nuisance exception, is subject to prosecution under § 95.99(A).