Sauk County, WI Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Sec. 10.07(g) of the Sauk County Code, within the 'Animals' subsection of the chapter's general park rules, states that no person, and no person having care, custody or control of a dog or other animal, may unnecessarily disturb any waterfowl or other birds or animals, wild or domestic, within any of the county's parks or parkways, and bars anyone from robbing or disturbing the nest or eggs of any bird or other animal there. The provision sits alongside other Sec. 10.07 animal rules: dogs and other animals must be leashed except in designated off-leash areas or while swimming, animals over an estimated 175 pounds are barred from parks (with horses exempted on designated trails), owners must promptly clean up animal feces, and no animal may be washed in a park or parkway.

Because the bird-protection language covers 'wild or domestic' birds and animals generally, it reaches conduct beyond dog owners, such as anyone who approaches or harasses waterfowl at a lake-access site or disturbs a nest along a trail. The rule applies within the county park system, including facilities such as White Mound County Park and Hemlock County Park, and is administered by the Land Resources and Environment Department.