Can You Kill Raccoons in Massachusetts? What the Law Actually Says

Raccoons are one of the most common wildlife conflicts Massachusetts homeowners face. Whether one has moved into your attic, raided your trash for the third night in a row, or is threatening your chickens, your first instinct might be to get rid of it permanently. But before you act, you need to know exactly what state law allows — and what can land you in serious trouble.

The short answer is yes, you can kill raccoons in Massachusetts under specific circumstances. However, the rules around when, how, and who can legally do it are more layered than most people expect. This guide walks through every relevant regulation so you can handle your raccoon problem without running afoul of Massachusetts law.

Are Raccoons Protected in Massachusetts?

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are not a protected species under Massachusetts law. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, also known as MassWildlife, oversees wildlife management in the state and has established rules and regulations for trapping and removing wildlife that must be followed. Raccoons fall into the category of fur-bearing mammals that are subject to regulated hunting and trapping seasons — not species that are off-limits year-round.

That said, “not protected” does not mean “no rules apply.” Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 131, Section 37, gives property owners the right to use lawful means to destroy wildlife in the act of causing damage or threatening personal safety. Landowners may only destroy wildlife actually causing damage or posing immediate threats. No one may randomly destroy wildlife simply because it is on their property.

Raccoons are also a known vector for rabies in New England, which is one reason the state takes their management seriously. Any raccoon behaving erratically or appearing sick should be reported to your local animal control office rather than approached.

When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in Massachusetts?

There are two distinct legal pathways that allow you to kill a raccoon in Massachusetts: during the established hunting season, or as a property owner defending against active damage.

During hunting season: The 2026 hunting season dates are January 1 through January 31, 2026, and October 1, 2026 through January 30, 2027. To hunt raccoon and opossum in Massachusetts, you must have a license, which you can buy through MassFishHunt. Hunting is prohibited on Sundays, and raccoon and opossum hunting is closed during the shotgun deer season.

As a property owner: Outside of hunting season, under Massachusetts General Law 131, Section 37, a property owner or tenant is prohibited from hunting and killing any mammal by poison or snare. Hunting or killing of any mammal is allowed by other means if the animal is seen damaging the property, unless such killing would violate any federal law or regulation.

Important Note: The property-owner exemption applies only when a raccoon is actively causing damage. You cannot kill a raccoon simply because it is on your land or you expect it might cause problems in the future.

Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in Massachusetts

Massachusetts sets specific rules on what weapons and methods you may use, and those rules differ depending on the time of day you are hunting.

Firearms: During daytime hunting — from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset — there are no restrictions on size or caliber of rifles or handguns. During nighttime hunting, rifles are restricted to those chambered not larger than .22 long rifle. For shotguns, only shot size up to #1 birdshot is permitted.

Archery: Archery equipment is legal with no minimum pull. Crossbows may only be used by permit. Poisoned arrows, explosive tips, and bows drawn by mechanical means are prohibited.

Hunting hours: Raccoon and opossum may be hunted 24 hours per day. An exception applies at Wildlife Management Areas stocked with pheasant or quail during the pheasant or quail season, where hunting hours for raccoon and opossum are from 9 p.m. onward during those specific seasons.

Poison and snares: Under Massachusetts General Law 131, Section 37, a property owner or tenant is prohibited from hunting and killing any mammal by poison or snare. These methods are off the table entirely for private landowners.

Bag limits: The individual bag limit is three raccoons between sunset of one day and sunset of the following day. The group bag limit for two or more hunters is six raccoons over the same period.

Pro Tip: Discharging a firearm is subject to local ordinances in addition to state hunting law. In many Massachusetts cities and densely populated suburbs, local bylaws prohibit firing a gun within town limits regardless of the season. Always check with your municipality before using a firearm on your property.

Trapping Raccoons in Massachusetts: Rules and Restrictions

Trapping is a common and legal approach to raccoon control in Massachusetts, but the state draws a firm line between legal trap types and prohibited ones.

Trapping season: Raccoon, opossum, and skunk may be taken by trapping throughout Massachusetts from November 1 to the following last day of February.

License requirements: A trapping license is required for all persons age 12 and older. In addition, to trap on the land of another, a Trap Registration Number is required. You can purchase a trapping license through the MassWildlife trapping portal.

Legal trap types: Any box and cage type traps that confine the whole animal without grasping any part of the mammal are legal to use and place in your front yard or other parts of your property. For populated areas, a cage or box trap should be used if you have free-ranging pets in your neighborhood. Use a well-built trap that is at least 10 inches by 12 inches by 32 inches.

Prohibited traps: Traps designed to capture and hold fur-bearing mammals by gripping their entire body or body parts are against the law. The traps that are prohibited by Massachusetts law include padded leghold traps, steel-jaw leghold traps, and snares. The only exception is that the use of Conibear traps is permitted to trap beaver and muskrat for the purpose of eliminating immediate threats to human health and safety, but only with a valid emergency permit.

Trap checking: Only traps designed for the specific wildlife you are targeting can be used and must be checked at least once every 24 hours.

Additional restriction: A person shall not remove or attempt to remove a raccoon from any hole in the ground, stone wall, from within any ledge, or from under any stone, or from any hole in any log or tree.

Trap Type	Legal in Massachusetts?	Notes
Box / cage trap	Yes	Must be checked every 24 hours
Padded leghold trap	No	Prohibited statewide
Steel-jaw leghold trap	No	Prohibited statewide
Snare	No	Prohibited statewide
Conibear trap	Limited	Beaver/muskrat only, emergency permit required

Reporting: When an animal is killed on your property, you must turn it over to an environmental police officer within 24 hours. For all other mammals taken under the property-owner exemption, a report must be submitted on or before January 31st of each year, stating the number and kinds of birds or mammals taken under authority of this section during the previous year.

If you are dealing with a raccoon problem in a neighboring state, the rules can differ significantly. See how Massachusetts compares to killing raccoons in New Jersey or killing raccoons in Pennsylvania.

Can You Relocate a Raccoon Instead of Killing It in Massachusetts?

Many homeowners assume that trapping and releasing a raccoon elsewhere is a humane, legal alternative to lethal control. In Massachusetts, that assumption is wrong.

In Massachusetts, it is illegal to trap an animal and relocate it somewhere else. This applies to homeowners and, critically, to the professionals you hire. It is also illegal for anyone, including PAC agents, to live-trap a problem animal and move it for release on other public or private property.

The reasons behind the prohibition go beyond legal formality. Moving a problem animal that has associated human development with survival essentially just moves the problem. Along with that, moving an animal that may carry diseases or parasites transports those problems with it, possibly introducing them into new areas. MassWildlife warns not to move wildlife — not only is it illegal, but it is also ineffective as the animal could return, be in danger in their new environment, or cause problems to someone else.

Trapped animals must be promptly and humanely euthanized. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, that is a strong reason to contact a licensed PAC agent from the start rather than attempting to trap the animal on your own.

One lawful alternative worth knowing: one-way doors and proper exclusion methods are just as effective and provide long-term solutions. Exclusion focuses on sealing entry points so raccoons cannot return, avoiding the need to trap or kill at all.

Important Note: If a wildlife removal company tells you they will catch your raccoon and release it somewhere else, they are operating illegally under Massachusetts law. Verify that any company you hire holds a current PAC license before work begins.

Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Massachusetts

If the situation is beyond what you want to handle personally — or if you are unsure whether your planned approach is legal — hiring a licensed Problem Animal Control (PAC) agent is the right call.

PAC agents are licensed individuals that act on your behalf to solve wildlife problems. PAC agents are different from municipal Animal Control Officers, who mainly deal with domestic animal issues. If a wild animal is damaging your property or posing a threat to your safety, you can call a PAC agent for advice or for a home visit.

PAC agents may legally only handle the following species: skunk, muskrat, raccoon, weasel, red fox, gray fox, porcupine, Norway rat, mice, voles, red, gray and flying squirrel, opossum, chipmunk, rabbit, woodchuck, snapping turtle, moles, pigeon, house sparrow, starling, and certain species of bats. Raccoons are explicitly on that list.

To find a PAC agent near you, use the MassWildlife PAC agent locator. PAC agents charge for their services. Fees vary by agent and the complexity of the job, so ask for an estimate before committing.

PAC agents operate under strict licensing requirements. A trapping license and a PAC license through the state of Massachusetts are both required. Without these, you cannot legally perform the work. PAC agents must also have a hunting license to euthanize animals with a firearm.

PAC agents act on behalf of the landowner and are constrained by the same regulations regarding capture, release, transport, and euthanasia. Animals captured by PAC agents may not be relocated elsewhere. Hiring a PAC agent does not change the relocation prohibition — it simply puts a licensed professional in charge of legally managing the outcome.

For comparison, see how wildlife control licensing and rules work in other states like Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland.

Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in Massachusetts

State law sets the floor for raccoon control in Massachusetts, but your city or town can impose additional restrictions that narrow what you are allowed to do on your own property.

Discharging firearms in developed areas is often prohibited by local safety ordinances and state hunting laws. This is particularly relevant in eastern Massachusetts, where many communities are densely populated and have their own firearm discharge bylaws. Even if you hold a valid hunting license and the raccoon is in season, firing a gun in a residential neighborhood may violate your town’s ordinances.

Local boards of health can also impose additional requirements when wildlife poses a public health risk. Raccoons are a primary rabies vector species in Massachusetts, and a local health department may issue specific guidance or restrictions during active rabies outbreaks in your area.

• Check your municipality’s general bylaws for firearm discharge prohibitions before hunting or dispatching a trapped raccoon.
• Contact your local Board of Health if you suspect a raccoon is rabid or if there is a known outbreak in your area.
• Some towns require you to notify animal control before taking action on nuisance wildlife, even when state law permits it.
• Homeowners associations (HOAs) may have their own rules about trapping or wildlife control on shared property.

When in doubt, a quick call to your town’s animal control office or Board of Health can clarify what is permitted locally before you take any action. You can also review Massachusetts’ broader wildlife-related laws, including the state’s roadkill laws, to understand how the state approaches wildlife encounters more generally.

Raccoon problems are common across many states, and the rules vary considerably. If you are curious how Massachusetts compares, see our guides on killing raccoons in Georgia, Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, and North Carolina.

Key Takeaways for Massachusetts Residents

Massachusetts gives property owners real options when raccoons become a problem, but those options come with clear boundaries. Killing a raccoon is legal — during hunting season with a license, or outside of season when the animal is actively damaging your property. The method matters: cage traps are in, leghold traps and snares are out, and poison is never permitted.

Relocation is illegal for everyone in Massachusetts, including the professionals you hire. If a raccoon is trapped, it must be euthanized on site. When you would rather not handle that yourself, a licensed PAC agent is your best resource. Always verify their credentials through MassWildlife’s official PAC agent information page before hiring anyone. And before taking any action, check your local ordinances — because your town may have rules that go further than state law allows.