Vanderburgh County, IN Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 12.24.010(J)
- Prohibits
- hunting, harming, or trapping park wildlife/birds
- Also bans
- taking eggs, nests, or young
- Maximum fine
- $2,500 per offense (§1.12.010)
- Enforced by
- Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department
- Applies to
- all Vanderburgh County Parks, incl. Burdette Park
Summary
Vanderburgh County Code 12.24.010(J) bans hunting, molesting, harming, or throwing missiles at any bird, wildlife, reptile, or animal on County Park property, and also bans taking the eggs, nest, or young of any bird or reptile. The rule applies to all county parks, including Burdette Park, and is enforced by the County Sheriff's Department.
12.24.010 Rules and regulations. It shall be a violation for any person to do any of the following in or upon the grounds or facilities of any Vanderburgh County Park ("County Park") without the express permission of the Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County ("Board") or the County Parks Manager: ... J. Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, pursue, chase, tease, shoot, or throw missiles at any animal, wildlife, reptile, or bird; or remove or have in one's possession the young of any wild animal or the eggs, nest, or young of any reptile or bird within any County Park.
Full Breakdown
24, "County Park Rules," lists conduct barred on the grounds or facilities of any Vanderburgh County Park without express permission of the Board of Commissioners or the County Parks Manager. Subsection J targets wildlife specifically: no person may hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, pursue, chase, tease, shoot, or throw missiles at any animal, wildlife, reptile, or bird, and no person may remove or possess the young of any wild animal or the eggs, nest, or young of any reptile or bird within any County Park.
The same section separately bars bringing weapons capable of firing projectiles, including BB guns, air guns, and slingshots, into a County Park under subsection T, which reinforces the wildlife protection by removing the tools most likely to be used to violate it. The rule sits among a broader set of park protections: subsection D bars digging or removing soil, rocks, or plants, and subsection E bars damaging trees, picking flowers, or disturbing grass areas, so the ordinance treats wildlife and habitat together as park resources the county protects.
040, which assigns enforcement to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department along with the Board and County Parks Manager, and each day a violation continues is treated as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Section 12.24.010(J) is punishable under Section 1.12.010's general penalty (referenced in the park chapter as prior code Section 10.99), which fines up to $2,500 per offense, and Section 12.24.040 makes each day a violation continues a separate offense. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department, the Board of Commissioners, and County Parks Manager are all authorized to enforce the rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed or chase geese at a county park?
Is it legal to take a bird's nest or eggs I find in a county park?
What's the penalty for violating the park wildlife rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vanderburgh County
Compare Vanderburgh County to another location·View the Indiana animal ordinances overview
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