McLean County, IL Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Section 282-7B protects wildlife inside the county park system with sweeping language: no person may 'trap, catch, kill or wound, or attempt to trap, catch, kill or wound any bird or animal,' take a bird egg, 'molest or rob any nest of any animal,' or 'otherwise cruelly treat any bird or animal' in any County park or recreational area. It sits directly beneath § 282-7A, which separately makes 'any form of hunting or trapping' unlawful in county parks and bars possessing or discharging any firearm, crossbow, bow and arrow, BB or pellet gun, or slingshot, except for bow fishing carved out under § 282-6C(2) and for on-duty peace officers.

Together the two subsections mean a person cannot legally shoot, trap, or otherwise harm birds anywhere on Department of Parks and Recreation property, including the Comlara Park nature preserve, which the Director may additionally post closed to entry under § 282-3H to protect flora, fauna and fish. The county does carve out one narrow release valve: § 282-7C lets the County Board license or authorize a person to use firearms, traps or other means to destroy or capture a 'predatory or otherwise undesirable' bird or animal, though that authorization does not excuse compliance with state law.

Absent that specific license, the bird-protection rule is absolute. McLean County Department of Parks and Recreation rangers and site managers, along with county law enforcement officers, enforce it, and a violation is punishable under § 282-14C by a fine of up to $500.