Can I Kill Nuisance Animals?

Some homeowners want to take matters into their own hands and use kill traps or shoot the nuisance animals themselves. This can be an effective method of animals control, but before you get your traps out and ammo ready, it's best to do your research to make sure you keep it legal.

Each state and city is going to have different rules and regulations regarding what animals may be killed, or "taken", under their nuisance animal laws. Furthermore, they're going to have laws governing what types of kill traps you may use, if you're allowed to bait, and if you're allowed to discharge a firearm or BB gun in your area.

It's best to contact a pest control company to take care of this for you, as they have all of the licenses and equipment to make sure your nuisance animal problem is taken care of and repairs are done properly. However, if you insist on taking care of the problem yourself, make sure to do extensive research on these methods prior to taking action. Any slip up could have serious legal repercussions for you and your family.

Let's Use Michigan As An Example

In the state of Michigan, beavers, muskrats, cottontail rabbits, fox squirrels, gray squirrels, red squirrels, ground squirrels, opossums, weasels, woodchucks, skunks, raccoons, and coyotes, may be legally killed, or "taken", by landowners without having a nuisance animal control permit issued to them by the DNR. These animals can also be killed without a hunting license on private land by the landowner or a designee if they're doing or about to do damage to private property, pets, livestock, or humans.

This means that when these animals are physically present on the property where they could imminently cause damage, they may be killed by the landowner or a person the landowner gives permission to do the killing.

It is important to know where your property lines are so that you are not taking an animal that is either on public or private land that does not belong to you. Areas where this rule can easily be violated is in waterways. For example, if there is a muskrat on your land, you may take it. However, if the muskrat is swimming in a public waterway that is not owned by you but runs parallel to your property, you may not take it. Keeping in mind these small but important details will keep you out of a lot trouble.

Each state, city, township, or village will have different rules governing the types of kill traps allowed, what animals can be baited, and whether you're allowed to shoot a firearm or BB gun in your area. It the MOST important thing to follow these rules. The ethical killing of animals and keeping people safe around you should be your main focus. Using a trap that is not legal could cause harm to the animal or other animals or humans and get you in legal trouble. Also, if the area you live allows firearms or BB guns to be discharged, you'll have to make sure you're firing them in a safe direction so that no one is line of your bullets or BBs.

Here at Critter Capture, we cannot stress enough that it is always best to call us, or another animal control company, to take care of these issues for you. This makes sure everything is done properly and will give you the peace of mind knowing your problem is resolved the ethical and legal way.