Nuisance Wildlife Control Chart

In many cases you do not need a permit to take and remove nuisance or pest animals when permits are needed we can work with landowners to get the necessary permits. How to get permits from state and federal agencies.

Some of the species below have recreational sporting seasons. Game animals may be taken during their specified hunting or trapping seasons with the appropriate recreational sporting license. All of our operators possess valid NYS sporting licenses and this is a great tool for game species when urgency is not necessary.

Use the Tables Below to Identify if You Need a Permit:

Mammals Commonly Causing Conflicts

Animal	Take if a Nuisance	Take if Damaging Property
Beaver	DEC permit needed – refer to note 3	DEC permit needed – refer to note 3
Black Bear	DEC permit needed	If destroying livestock or an apiary, no permit is necessary to take a black bear; restrictions apply. Also, DEC may issue a permit for a landowner to take if there is proof that the bear is causing property damage
Bobcat	DEC permit needed	DEC permit needed
Chipmunk	Yes	Yes
Coyote	DEC permit needed	Yes
Deer	DEC permit needed	DEC permit needed
Fisher	DEC permit needed	DEC permit needed
Red Fox and Gray Fox	DEC permit needed	Yes
Hare – Snowshoe/Varying	DEC permit needed	Yes, refer to notes 1 and 2
Marten	DEC permit needed	DEC permit needed
Mice	Yes	Yes
Mink	DEC permit needed	DEC permit needed
Moles	Yes	Yes
Muskrat	Yes, refer to note 2	Yes, refer to note 2
Opossum	DEC permit needed	Yes, refer to note 2
Otter, River	DEC permit needed	DEC permit needed
Porcupine	Yes	Yes
Rabbit – Cottontail	DEC permit needed	Yes, refer to notes 1 and 2
Raccoon	DEC permit needed	Yes, refer to note 2
Rats (*except* Allegheny woodrat)	Yes	Yes
Shrews	Yes	Yes
Skunk	Yes, refer to note 2	Yes, refer to note 2
Squirrels – Gray, Black, and Fox	DEC permit needed	Yes, refer to note 2
Squirrels – Red and Flying	Yes	Yes
Voles	Yes	Yes
Weasels	DEC permit needed	Yes, refer to note 2
Woodchuck/Groundhog	Yes	Yes

Birds Commonly Causing Conflicts

Animal	Take if only a Nuisance	Take is Damaging Property
Blackbird, Red-winged	No	If destroying crops, may be taken without a permit during June – October, for all other damage refer to note 4
Canada Goose	Federal permit needed	Federal permit or DEC authorization needed, refer to note 5
Cormorants	No	Federal permit needed
Cowbirds	No	If destroying crops, may be taken without a permit during June – October, for all other damage refer to note 4
Crow	No	If destroying crops, may be taken without a permit, for all other damage refer to note 4
Ducks	Federal permit needed	Federal permit needed
European starling	Yes	Yes
Grackle	No	If destroying crops, may be taken without a permit during June – October, for all other damage refer to note 4
Great Blue Heron	Federal permit Needed	Federal permit Needed
Gulls	Federal permit needed	Federal permit needed
House (English) sparrow	Yes	Yes
Pigeon without leg band	Yes	Yes
Pigeon with leg band	No	No
Snow goose	Federal permit needed	Federal permit needed
Mute swans	DEC permit needed	DEC permit needed
Turkey	DEC permit needed	DEC permit needed
Woodpecker	Federal permit needed	Federal permit needed