Raccoons are one of the most common wildlife conflicts Maryland homeowners face — raiding trash cans, tearing into attic insulation, and causing hundreds of dollars in property damage. If one has taken up residence on your property, your first instinct might be to ask whether you can simply get rid of it for good.
The answer depends heavily on your situation, your location, and how you plan to go about it. Maryland law gives property owners more options than many people realize, but it also draws clear lines around what is and is not permitted. Before you take any action, understanding the rules can save you from a fine — or worse.
Are Raccoons Protected in Maryland?
Raccoons in Maryland occupy an interesting legal category. They are classified as furbearers under state law, which means they receive a degree of protection but are not off-limits to hunters, trappers, or property owners dealing with damage. Furbearers in Maryland include beaver, bobcat, coyote, fisher, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, red fox, river otter, and skunk.
Being classified as a furbearer means raccoons cannot be killed at will, any time of year, without some form of legal authorization. However, that authorization is often easier to obtain than people assume — particularly for landowners dealing with property damage.
One important restriction worth noting upfront: under Maryland law, a person may not import into the state, offer for sale, trade, barter, possess, breed, or exchange raccoons. Keeping a live raccoon as a pet is also prohibited. A person may not possess any live raccoon or opossum unless the person first procures a permit from the Department, and any raccoon or opossum reduced to possession by a hunter or trapper must be immediately killed.
For more on how raccoons behave and why they become such persistent nuisances, see our full guide on raccoons and learn about the different types of raccoons found across North America.
When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in Maryland?
There are several distinct legal pathways that allow you to kill a raccoon in Maryland. Each comes with its own conditions, and choosing the wrong approach can expose you to penalties.
During open hunting season: Raccoons may be hunted during Maryland’s designated furbearer season with the proper licenses in hand. Firearms, archery equipment, and air guns may be used to hunt raccoon, and a hunter pursuing these furbearers must possess a valid Furbearer Permit. A standard Maryland hunting license is also required alongside the Furbearer Permit.
As a landowner dealing with property damage: This is the most relevant pathway for most homeowners. A landowner or the landowner’s agent may set or use traps or similar devices at any time to trap raccoons or opossums that are damaging property. This right exists year-round, outside of any hunting season, specifically because raccoons that are actively damaging crops, structures, or other property represent a recognized nuisance.
Marsh owners protecting muskrats: The owner of a marsh, or the owner’s employees, may hunt any raccoon that destroys a muskrat or its home in a marsh area within the state.
One hard prohibition: Maryland law, enacted in 2021, states that a person may not sponsor, conduct, or participate in a contest organized in the state that has the objective of killing a coyote, fox, or raccoon for prizes or monetary rewards. A person is subject to a fine of $50 for each raccoon killed in violation of this law.
Important Note: Even when killing a raccoon is legally permitted, you must still comply with local firearms discharge ordinances. Discharging a firearm within city or town limits is typically illegal regardless of the target animal. Always confirm local rules before using any weapon on your property.
Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in Maryland
Maryland specifies which tools and methods are lawful when taking raccoons. Using an unlisted or prohibited method — even if the kill itself would otherwise be legal — can result in a violation.
Firearms: Taking raccoon with firearms is subject to specific regulations: a shotgun may not hold more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined, rifles and handguns may be used, and full metal-jacketed, incendiary, or tracer bullets may not be used. Muzzleloaders are also permitted under the applicable rules.
Air guns: Air guns that shoot bolts, bullets, or arrows may be used to take raccoon, and it is unlawful to have a loaded air gun in, on, or leaning against a vehicle.
Archery equipment: Bows and crossbows are legal tools for taking raccoons during the furbearer season, provided you hold the required Furbearer Permit.
Electronic calling devices: Raccoons can be hunted with the aid of electronic calling devices. This is a common technique used by nighttime hunters during the open season.
Traps: Body-gripping traps and other mechanical devices are permitted under certain conditions (see the trapping section below for full details).
- Shooting on, from, or across any public road is prohibited
- Full metal-jacketed, incendiary, or tracer bullets are not permitted
- Shotguns are limited to three shells in the magazine and chamber combined
- Loaded firearms or air guns may not be in or on a vehicle
Pro Tip: If you are a landowner acting outside of hunting season to address property damage, you are not hunting in the traditional sense — but you are still bound by local firearm discharge laws. In suburban and urban areas, a live trap followed by euthanasia is almost always the more legally straightforward option.
Curious about what naturally keeps raccoon populations in check? Our article on predators of raccoons and what animals eat raccoons covers the ecological side of raccoon control.
Trapping Raccoons in Maryland: Rules and Restrictions
Trapping is one of the most practical options for Maryland property owners, and the rules around it are more permissive for landowners than many people expect.
Landowner trapping rights: A landowner or the landowner’s agent may set or use steel traps or similar devices at any time to trap raccoon or opossum that are damaging property. This means you do not need to wait for a hunting season or obtain a Furbearer Permit if you are a landowner addressing active property damage.
Furbearer Permit for other trappers: A Furbearer Permit is required to hunt, chase, or trap any furbearer if you do not qualify under the landowner damage-control exemption. Anyone who traps for sport or commercial purposes must hold this permit and meet the associated trapper education requirements.
Trapper education: To learn more about Trapper Education Courses, contact the Natural Resources Police Outreach Unit at 410-643-8502 or visit the Trapper Education page on the Maryland DNR website. All trappers are encouraged to participate in a trapper education course, and these courses are held statewide.
DNRid tagging requirement: Anyone who uses a snare, trap, or another similar device to capture wildlife must include their DNRid number either stamped on the device or affixed by a metal tag. This is a newer requirement — make sure any trap you deploy is properly marked.
What to do with a trapped raccoon: This is where many people are caught off guard. Maryland regulations require that rabies-vector species, including raccoons and skunks, be euthanized when they are live-trapped. The only exception is that the animal may be released on the property from which it was trapped.
Tree-cutting prohibition: A person may not cut a tree for the purpose of hunting or dislodging a raccoon or opossum without the consent of the owner of the tree. This applies even on your own property if the tree belongs to someone else.
Key Insight: Cage or box traps are the recommended tool in populated areas. According to wildlife guidance for Maryland, a cage or box trap should be used in populated areas or if you have free-ranging pets in the neighborhood, and a well-built trap should measure at least 10 inches by 12 inches by 32 inches for raccoons.
Can You Relocate a Raccoon Instead of Killing It in Maryland?
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of Maryland’s raccoon laws, and the answer will surprise many people who assume they can simply trap and release a raccoon somewhere else.
Relocation is prohibited for raccoons. Relocation of rabies-vector species — including raccoon, skunk, and fox — is prohibited under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 08.03.15.24. This restriction is necessary to prevent human-assisted spread of disease and is an important component of the state’s nuisance wildlife control program.
In practical terms, this means that if you trap a raccoon on your property, your legal options are limited to two outcomes: euthanize it, or release it back onto the same property where it was caught. You cannot drive it to a park, a forest, or a neighbor’s property and let it go.
The rationale is rooted in public health. Raccoons are one of the primary vectors for rabies in Maryland, and moving an infected animal to a new location could introduce the disease to areas where it had not previously been present. Raccoons generally do not attack people and try to stay away from humans, but they may carry diseases that can make them aggressive — for example, rabies and canine distemper are fairly common in raccoons.
If you are hoping to avoid lethal control, your best non-lethal alternative is exclusion — physically sealing entry points and removing attractants from your property. Our guide on plants that repel raccoons covers some natural deterrent strategies worth considering before the situation escalates.
Common Mistake: Many Maryland homeowners trap a raccoon and then drive it to a nearby park or wooded area, assuming this is the humane solution. Under COMAR 08.03.15.24, this is illegal. If you are caught transporting a live raccoon off your property, you could face regulatory penalties.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Maryland
If you are not comfortable handling the situation yourself — or if local ordinances make lethal methods impractical on your property — hiring a professional is often the most sensible path.
Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators are licensed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to remove animals such as squirrels, raccoons, bats, opossums, skunks, rats, birds, beavers, mice, snakes, groundhogs, and other types of nuisance wildlife. These operators hold a Wildlife Damage Control Permit issued by Maryland DNR, which authorizes them to take raccoons and other species that would otherwise require additional permits for private citizens.
A person providing either commercial or public agency wildlife damage control services must obtain a wildlife damage control permit from the Service. This licensing requirement exists to ensure that operators understand both the legal framework and the safe handling of potentially rabid animals.
What to look for when hiring:
- Confirm the company holds a current Maryland DNR Wildlife Damage Control Permit
- Ask specifically about their protocol for raccoons — given the relocation ban, reputable operators will euthanize trapped raccoons rather than relocate them off-site
- Request proof of liability insurance
- Ask whether they offer exclusion services to prevent re-entry after removal
There are companies in Maryland performing animal removal and nuisance wildlife control without the proper license or insurance — these companies should be avoided. Always hire a company that is credible and has the proper permits and license.
For questions about wildlife problems or to find registered operators, you can contact the Maryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service at 410-260-8540, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
If you are dealing with raccoon-related road mortality or wondering about roadkill laws in nearby states, you may also find our guides on roadkill laws in Maryland, roadkill laws in Virginia, and roadkill laws in West Virginia useful for context.
Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in Maryland
State law sets the baseline for raccoon control in Maryland, but it does not exist in a vacuum. County and municipal governments have the authority to layer additional restrictions on top of state regulations — and in some cases, those local rules are significantly stricter.
Firearm discharge restrictions: Discharging any kind of firearm within city limits is typically illegal outside of a few exceptions. Outside of the city, you are typically allowed to fire a weapon on your property, as long as it is not automatic. This means that even if state law permits you to shoot a raccoon that is damaging your property, your municipality may prohibit the discharge of a firearm in a residential area entirely.
County-level wildlife rules: Some counties have local restrictions governing fox hunting, trapping, and the possession of foxes and their pelts, and for detailed information you should contact local law enforcement authorities. Similar county-level nuances can apply to raccoon-related activity, particularly around trapping methods and Sunday hunting permissions.
Anne Arundel County example: The keeping of skunks, raccoons, and opossums is illegal in Anne Arundel County. This type of ordinance illustrates how county codes can go further than state law in restricting what residents may do with these animals.
Sunday hunting restrictions: Sunday hunting for certain furbearers is permitted with restrictions in some counties and locations — see the Sunday hunting chart published by Maryland DNR for a county-by-county breakdown.
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area: If you hunt raccoons on public land, site-specific rules apply. Raccoon hunting hours at Fair Hill begin at sunset each day and end at midnight, and hunting is only permitted on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Raccoon hunters must obtain a Fair Hill Raccoon Hunting Permit from the park office, and permits can be obtained during regular business hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or requested over the phone.
Pro Tip: Before taking any lethal action against a raccoon on your property, call your county’s animal services department or local law enforcement non-emergency line. A quick five-minute call can confirm whether local discharge ordinances apply to your address and save you from an unexpected citation.
The bottom line: state law in Maryland gives property owners meaningful tools for dealing with nuisance raccoons, but local ordinances can significantly narrow your options — especially in suburban and urban settings. When in doubt, a licensed wildlife control operator who already knows your county’s rules is often the fastest and most legally sound solution.
For additional context on wildlife laws and animal-related regulations across the region, explore our articles on roadkill laws in Tennessee, roadkill laws in Washington, and roadkill laws in Wisconsin.