Wildlife Removal Laws in Michigan: What Homeowners Need to Know Before Acting

Michigan is home to an extraordinary range of wildlife — from white-tailed deer and black bears to raccoons, bats, and migratory birds. When one of these animals turns up in your attic, yard, or barn, the instinct to handle it yourself can be strong. But acting without knowing the rules can land you in serious legal trouble.

Wildlife removal laws in Michigan are governed primarily by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (Act 451 of 1994) and the Wildlife Conservation Order. These rules determine which animals you can remove on your own, which ones require a licensed professional, and what happens if you get it wrong. This guide walks you through everything you need to know before you act.

Can You Remove Wildlife Yourself in Michigan

The short answer is: it depends entirely on the species. Michigan law gives property owners some self-help options, but those options are narrower than most people expect. The statewide wildlife regulations clearly prohibit any person from removing game or protected animals alive from the wild. That prohibition covers a wide swath of Michigan’s native species and applies to homeowners just as much as it does to commercial operators.

Where the law does allow self-help, it typically limits you to situations where an animal is actively causing — or is about to cause — damage to your property. Even then, the method you use and the species involved determine whether your actions are legal.

Key Insight: The Michigan DNR will not remove nuisance animals from private properties on your behalf. Resolving a wildlife conflict on your land is your responsibility — but that responsibility comes with legal boundaries you must respect.

Before taking any action, it is worth checking whether your municipality has its own local ordinances that are stricter than state rules. Cities like Woodhaven, for example, restrict trap types beyond what state law requires. Always verify both state and local rules before proceeding. You may also find it helpful to review pet laws in Michigan for context on how the state regulates animals more broadly.

Which Animals Can Be Removed Without a Permit in Michigan

Michigan law identifies a specific group of animals that property owners can address without obtaining a DNR permit, provided the animal is causing or is about to cause damage on private property. Knowing this list is essential before you attempt any removal.

Coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and woodchucks are not protected and can be taken year-round when they are doing or about to do damage on private property. This is a meaningful carve-out for homeowners dealing with common nuisance species.

Ground squirrel (including chipmunk), porcupine, red squirrel, and Russian boar may be hunted and trapped, and feral pigeon, house sparrow, starling, and woodchuck may be hunted, year-round, statewide with a valid base license. Cottontail rabbit, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, ground squirrel, red squirrel, and woodchuck may be taken year-round, using all legal hunting and trapping methods for those species as permitted by law, on private property without a license or written permit when doing, or physically present where they could imminently cause, damage.

Opossum, porcupine, weasel, red squirrel, ground squirrel, and feral swine can also be taken year-round with a valid Michigan hunting license.

Certain bird species fall outside federal protection as well. House sparrows, European starlings, and rock doves/pigeons are species that can roost in large groups and create large messes under their roosts. These three species are not protected under federal law, as they are all species that were introduced to North America and are not native to Michigan’s ecosystem.

Animal	Permit Required?	Conditions
Raccoon	No (damage situation)	Must be doing or about to do damage; no hunting license needed in areas where hunting is allowed
Coyote	No (damage situation)	Year-round on private property when causing damage
Skunk	No (damage situation)	Year-round on private property when causing damage
Woodchuck	No	Year-round with valid base license or without license when causing imminent damage
Red/Ground Squirrel	No	Year-round on private property when causing imminent damage
Opossum	No	Valid Michigan hunting license required
House Sparrow / Starling / Pigeon	No	Not federally protected; no permit needed

Which Animals Require a Licensed Wildlife Removal Professional in Michigan

Many of Michigan’s most commonly encountered wildlife species carry legal protections that make DIY removal illegal without proper authorization. Attempting to trap, kill, or relocate these animals on your own — even if they are causing real damage — can result in criminal penalties.

Game species and furbearers, including deer, bear, beaver, fox, and rabbit, are protected by state law and require a DNR permit for their removal. These are not animals you can simply trap and dispose of on your own initiative.

Bats are another category that demands professional handling. Permittees are authorized to undertake control measures on the premises of the complainant for the control of bats that are not threatened or endangered. If the bat species on your property is listed as threatened or endangered, even licensed operators face restrictions. Michigan is home to the endangered Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat, making bat situations especially sensitive.

No protected wildlife species, other than those listed previously within Section 5.52(3) of the Wildlife Conservation Order, may be trapped or killed without first obtaining a special permit or special authorization from the Department.

Migratory birds require an additional layer of authorization beyond state permits. Most migratory birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), including Canada geese, sandhill cranes, gulls, hawks, and waterfowl. Under the MBTA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has the authority to issue depredation permits to control damage caused by migratory birds.

Mute swans, though invasive, also require a specific permit. Though hunting mute swans is not allowed, the DNR issues permits to remove mute swans and/or their nests and eggs. If you have mute swans on your property and wish to remove them or their nests and eggs, you must request a mute swan removal permit.

Important Note: Turkey vultures are protected under federal law and may not be harmed under any circumstances. If turkey vultures are threatening public safety, contact USDA Wildlife Services at 866-487-3297.

For deer specifically, two types of permits can be issued for control of white-tailed deer: a Deer Management Assistance Permit (DMAP) or a Deer Damage Shooting Permit. These permits differ according to when they can be used, within or outside of a regular hunting season, respectively. Both permit types are valid for antlerless deer only taken on the property listed on the permit.

If you are curious how Michigan’s approach to wildlife intersects with other animal regulations, the brucellosis laws in Michigan page covers an important disease-related dimension of deer management in the state. You can also explore U.S. laws on exotic pets for a broader look at how wildlife protection rules operate nationally.

Trapping Rules and Legal Methods in Michigan

If you have the legal right to trap a nuisance animal in Michigan, you still must follow specific rules about how you do it. The method of trapping matters as much as whether you are allowed to trap at all.

For furbearers like muskrats and beavers, a license is required even when trapping is otherwise permitted. If you live in an area where trapping is allowed, muskrats may be trapped in season with a valid base and fur harvester license. See the Fur Harvester Digest for muskrat regulations. Similarly, if you live in an area where trapping is allowed, beavers may be trapped in season with a valid base and fur harvester license.

Trap identification is a legal requirement in Michigan. Traps must be marked with the owner’s name and contact information. Some municipalities go further — Woodhaven, for example, requires that only safe, humane live traps may be used within the city. No leg traps, snares, or conibears are allowed. Always verify what your local jurisdiction permits before setting any trap.

Traps must also be checked regularly. Leaving a trapped animal unattended for extended periods can expose you to animal cruelty liability under Michigan law. Failure to follow any trapping rules and laws may result in animal cruelty charges.

Pro Tip: Even if a species can be legally trapped on your property, check whether your area is zoned for hunting and trapping. In many suburban and urban areas, these activities are prohibited regardless of the species involved — and your only legal option may be to hire a licensed nuisance control company.

For raccoons, a specific rule governs what happens after capture. A raccoon, if released, shall be released only in the same county where captured and, if held in captivity, shall be isolated in a manner to prevent physical contact with any animal not originating from the same county. This rule is designed to prevent the spread of disease between raccoon populations from different regions.

Regarding pesticides and chemical control methods, permittees in the “Restricted” classification are restricted from using pesticides. Permittees in the “General” classification are required to possess a Pesticide Applicator’s License in the category 7A (General Pest Control) or 7D (Vertebrate Pest Control) from the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Unlicensed individuals should not use chemical control methods for wildlife under any circumstances.

For more on how trapping and animal regulations work in other states, see how California and Kentucky handle animal control laws, which can provide useful comparison context.

Can You Relocate Wildlife in Michigan

Relocating a wild animal might seem like the most humane solution, but Michigan law places strict limits on this practice — and in many cases, it is outright illegal without proper authorization.

The statewide wildlife regulations clearly prohibit any person from removing game or protected animals alive from the wild. Exceptions include: 1) a licensed wildlife rehabilitator may hold wild animals specifically for rehabilitation and release, and 2) a person issued a Wildlife Damage and Nuisance Control Permit may hold an animal in captivity for no more than 24 hours specifically for release or disposal.

The 24-hour rule is critical. Even licensed wildlife control operators cannot hold a captured animal indefinitely. Under the authority of a physician’s request for legitimate public health concerns, or Department request, captured animals may be temporarily held for a longer period of time. Outside of those narrow exceptions, the animal must be released or humanely euthanized within 24 hours.

Beaver relocation carries its own specific restriction. Beaver shall not be live trapped and relocated or translocated without authorization of the wildlife management unit supervisor. This rule applies even to licensed permittees operating on private lands during the closed season.

The raccoon relocation rule reinforces why county-to-county movement of wildlife is tightly controlled. Releasing a raccoon across county lines is prohibited because it can spread diseases like rabies and distemper into new raccoon populations. If you trap a raccoon and then drive it to a park in the next county, you are breaking the law — even if your intentions were good.

Common Mistake: Many homeowners assume that driving a trapped animal to a wooded area far from home is both legal and humane. In Michigan, this is often neither. Releasing wildlife outside the county of capture is prohibited for species like raccoons, and releasing animals into unfamiliar territory can be a death sentence for the animal itself.

If you are dealing with an injured or orphaned animal rather than a nuisance one, the path forward is different. Wildlife rehabilitation programs play a crucial role in caring for injured or orphaned wildlife, with trained professionals providing medical treatment, shelter, and eventual release back into their natural habitats. Contact a licensed Michigan wildlife rehabilitator rather than attempting to care for or relocate the animal yourself. You can find additional resources through organizations listed on wildlife organizations and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Michigan

When you are dealing with a protected species, a situation where hunting or trapping is not allowed in your area, or simply want the job done correctly and legally, hiring a licensed Wildlife Control Operator (WCO) is the right move.

An approved permit is required for all Wildlife Damage and Nuisance Control Commercial Operators in Michigan. Producers and property owners may elect to enlist the services of private nuisance wildlife control companies. These companies are licensed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to provide wildlife control services.

Licensed operators work under the authority of the DNR’s Wildlife Damage and Nuisance Control Permit system, which is governed by Wildlife Conservation Order Section 5.52. This permit is issued to private nuisance animal control businesses, public agencies, and other organizations. The permit authorizes them to handle species and use methods that are off-limits to ordinary homeowners.

In some areas, hunting or trapping may not be allowed for certain reasons. In this case, specially permitted nuisance control companies can be hired to assist landowners in the safe removal of problem animals.

Record-keeping is a formal requirement for licensed operators. Each permittee must keep records of their nuisance animal control activities. Such records shall be summarized on the Department-provided report form and sent to the DNR’s Wildlife Division Office by February 1 of the year the permit expires. Submission of the report is a condition for permit renewal.

When selecting a wildlife control company, verify that they hold a current DNR Wildlife Damage and Nuisance Control Permit. You can use the Michigan DNR’s nuisance animal control directory to find licensed operators in your area. Ask specifically whether the company holds a “General” or “Restricted” classification under their permit, as this affects what methods they are authorized to use.

Pro Tip: Before signing a contract with a wildlife control company, ask whether they will handle the full job — including exclusion work to prevent re-entry — or only the initial removal. A one-time trap-and-remove without addressing entry points often leads to the same problem recurring within weeks.

For context on how Michigan’s broader animal laws interact with wildlife management, it is worth reviewing the state’s roadkill laws in Michigan, which govern what you can legally do with wildlife that has been killed by a vehicle. The outdoor cat laws in Michigan page also covers an often-overlooked area where domestic animals intersect with wildlife regulations.

Penalties for Illegal Wildlife Removal in Michigan

Michigan takes wildlife law enforcement seriously, and the penalties for violations are substantial. Fines, jail time, license revocations, and restitution payments can all follow from illegal wildlife removal activity.

The baseline penalty for a general wildlife law violation is significant. An individual who violates the Wildlife Conservation Act, an order or interim order issued under this part, or a condition of a permit issued under this part is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not less than $50.00 or more than $500.00, or both, and the costs of prosecution. In addition, a permit issued by the department under this part must be revoked.

Violations involving specific high-value or high-priority species carry heavier consequences. An individual who violates a provision regarding the possession or taking of deer, bear, wild turkey, or wolf is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be imprisoned for not more than 90 days, shall be fined not less than $200.00 or more than $1,000.00, and shall be ordered to pay the costs of prosecution.

Repeat offenders face escalating penalties. An individual who violates wildlife obstruction laws is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not less than $500.00 or more than $1,000.00, or both, and the costs of prosecution. An individual who violates this section a second or subsequent time is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not less than $1,000.00 or more than $2,500.00, or both, and the costs of prosecution. In addition to the penalties, any permit or license issued by the department authorizing the individual to take animals or fish shall be revoked.

Hunting license revocations can follow wildlife violations for years. An individual sentenced under certain subsections shall not secure or possess a license to hunt during the remainder of the year in which convicted and the next succeeding calendar year, or longer in the discretion of the court. In addition to the penalties for violating this part, an individual convicted of the illegal killing, possessing, purchasing, or selling of a bear or an antlered white-tailed deer is subject to additional penalties.

For bear and antlered deer specifically, the revocation period extends further. For a second or subsequent offense, the individual shall not secure or possess a license of any kind to hunt for an additional 7 calendar years after the penalties imposed.

Using illegal trapping devices adds yet another layer of liability. An individual who willfully violates a provision of this part by using an illegally constructed snare or cable restraint is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of $1,000.00 for the first illegally constructed snare or cable restraint and $250.00 for each subsequent illegally constructed snare or cable restraint, or both, and the costs of prosecution.

Violation Type	Penalty Range	Additional Consequences
General wildlife law violation	Up to 90 days imprisonment; $50–$500 fine	Permit revocation
Illegal taking of deer, bear, wild turkey, or wolf	Up to 90 days imprisonment; $200–$1,000 fine	Hunting license revocation (3+ years)
Second or subsequent wildlife offense	Up to 1 year imprisonment; $1,000–$2,500 fine	All permits and licenses revoked
Illegal snare or cable restraint	Up to 90 days; $1,000 for first device + $250 per additional	Criminal misdemeanor record
Bear or antlered deer (second offense)	Fines + imprisonment per subsection	7 additional years hunting license revocation

Beyond criminal penalties, lethal control without the proper permits is illegal and subject to state and federal penalties. Federal violations — such as harming a migratory bird without a USFWS depredation permit — can add federal charges on top of state-level consequences.

If you witness what you believe to be illegal wildlife activity, you can report it through the DNR’s Report All Poaching (RAP) hotline at 1-800-292-7800, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also explore resources from the Defenders of Wildlife and the African Wildlife Foundation to better understand wildlife protection principles that inform laws like Michigan’s.

Understanding Michigan’s wildlife removal laws before you act is the single most effective way to protect yourself legally, protect the animals involved, and resolve your wildlife conflict in a way that lasts. When in doubt, call a licensed wildlife control operator or contact your local DNR office before taking any action.