Shoreline, WA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Section 8.12.410, titled "Damage to wildlife," protects birds and animals inside Shoreline's park system with broad language: except for fishing and shell fishing in authorized areas and subject to rules the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission promulgates, it is unlawful in any park to capture, attempt to capture, tease, annoy, disturb, or strike any bird or animal, or to throw or otherwise propel any object at or in the vicinity of any bird or animal. That single sentence covers everything from cornering a duck for a photo to throwing objects near gulls at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park.

Unlike most of Chapter 8.12's park rules, which fall under Article III and carry only a civil infraction, § 8.12.410 sits inside Article IV, "Rules Governing Use of Facilities (Part 2)," so § 8.12.540 makes any violation of this article a misdemeanor rather than a civil infraction, a materially higher-stakes criminal charge. Section 8.12.550's administrative sanction still layers on top, letting the city pull a violator's park or recreation facility use privileges. The section leaves room for state-regulated fishing and shellfishing, which SMC § 8.12.260 and § 8.12.270 separately govern, but every other form of chasing, teasing, or throwing objects at park wildlife is off-limits regardless of species.