Can You Kill Raccoons in West Virginia? What the Law Actually Allows

Raccoons are one of the most common wildlife conflicts West Virginia homeowners and landowners face. Whether one is raiding your chicken coop, tearing up your attic insulation, or knocking over trash cans every night, the instinct to deal with the problem quickly is understandable. But before you reach for a firearm or set a trap, you need to know exactly where the law stands.

West Virginia does allow you to kill raccoons — but only under specific, regulated conditions. Getting those conditions wrong can expose you to wildlife violations, fines, and equipment confiscation. This guide breaks down every legal pathway available to you, from open hunting season to nuisance permits, so you can handle the situation correctly.

Are Raccoons Protected in West Virginia?

Raccoons are not protected under federal law, but they are regulated under West Virginia state law. Furbearing animals in West Virginia include mink, weasels, muskrat, beaver, opossum, skunk, otter, gray fox, red fox, bobcat, raccoon, fisher, and coyote. That classification matters because it means raccoons fall under the jurisdiction of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), and you cannot take them arbitrarily.

All furbearing species, including raccoons, may be trapped during their respective open seasons in West Virginia. Outside of those regulated seasons, killing a raccoon without proper authorization is a violation of state wildlife law. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is one of the most adaptable mammals in North America, thriving in both rural and suburban environments across the Mountain State — which is precisely why conflicts with humans are so common.

In West Virginia, the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) is responsible for setting open seasons, season lengths, sex and bag limits. So the rules governing raccoons are not arbitrary — they are set through a formal scientific and public process each year.

Key Insight: Raccoons are regulated furbearers in West Virginia, not unprotected pests. Killing one outside a legal season or without a permit can result in a wildlife violation, even on your own property.

When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in West Virginia?

There are two primary legal pathways for killing a raccoon in West Virginia: during the regulated open hunting or trapping season, and outside that season under a Wildlife Damage Permit issued by the WVDNR.

Hunting seasons for raccoon run through the end of February, alongside squirrels, ruffed grouse, cottontail rabbit, red and gray fox, and bobcat. The WVDNR publishes exact season opening dates in its annual Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary, which covers each July-through-June period. For season dates, open counties, bag limits, and other helpful tips for West Virginia’s big and small game seasons, you can download the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary for the 2025–2026 seasons from the WVDNR.

Outside of open season, the other legal pathway is a Wildlife Damage Permit. You should always make sure you have a Wildlife Damage Permit, which you can get from the WVDNR district office near you — this is particularly important if you plan to trap or kill the nuisance animal. The permit is issued when a raccoon is actively causing property damage or posing a health or safety risk.

Your local WVDNR district office can provide guidance regarding nuisance wildlife and can also provide you with a permit to remove or destroy certain animals, along with advice on how to do so if it is necessary or desirable for you to trap or shoot animals yourself.

Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in West Virginia

Only opossum, skunk, gray fox, red fox, bobcat, raccoon, and coyote may be hunted with firearms or archery equipment in West Virginia. This means raccoons are among the select furbearer species where firearm and archery hunting is explicitly permitted during open season.

Night hunting is also allowed for raccoons. Under West Virginia Code §20-2-5, it is lawful to hunt or take coyote, fox, raccoon, opossum, or skunk by the use of artificial light or night vision technology, including image intensification, thermal imaging, or active illumination. This is a meaningful allowance given that raccoons are primarily nocturnal animals.

If you trap a raccoon and cannot legally release it on your property, there are recognized humane dispatch methods. If releasing the raccoon nearby is not an option, you can humanely euthanize it with a .22-caliber rifle or pistol, or by placing it in a carbon dioxide chamber. Note that discharging firearms in developed areas is often prohibited by local safety ordinances and state hunting laws, so check your local rules before choosing that method in a residential setting.

The WVDNR’s 2025–2026 regulations also confirm a bag limit for raccoon hunting. The bag limit of 4 raccoons applies to the 24-hour period of 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. Trapping does not carry the same daily bag limit restriction, though season limits and other rules still apply.

Important Note: Even with a valid hunting license or Wildlife Damage Permit, you must comply with local ordinances about firearm discharge. Shooting a raccoon in a suburban backyard may be legal under state wildlife law but prohibited under your county or municipal code.

Trapping Raccoons in West Virginia: Rules and Restrictions

Trapping raccoons in West Virginia is legal during the open furbearer season, but it comes with a clear set of rules you must follow. Ignoring any one of them can result in criminal citations and equipment seizure.

Anyone who wants to trap in West Virginia must carry a valid license in the field. Residents ages 15 through 64 need a license before trapping any furbearing species. The most common option for residents is the Class X license, which covers hunting, fishing, and trapping statewide for a fee of $33 (as of the 2025–2026 season). Trapping without a valid license is a misdemeanor offense under West Virginia law.

West Virginia requires anyone born on or after July 1, 1966, to complete a trapper education course before harvesting furbearers on land other than their own. The course covers trap safety, ethical practices, wildlife biology, and the state’s regulatory framework. The course is typically offered at no cost.

There are also strict timing rules for setting traps. No traps shall be set before 8 a.m. on the first day of the season or either set or left set after noon on the last day of the season. All traps must be checked and tended daily. Failing to check traps daily is not just a legal issue — leaving a trapped animal without attention can constitute animal cruelty under state law.

All traps must also be properly identified. All traps used for taking furbearing animals shall be marked with a durable plate or tag attached to the snare, trap, or trap chain bearing the owner’s name and address or the owner’s DNR ID number.

• Valid hunting/trapping license required for all trappers ages 15–64
• Trapper education course required for those born on or after July 1, 1966, when trapping off your own land
• Traps cannot be set before 8 a.m. on opening day or left after noon on closing day
• All traps must be checked and tended every day
• Each trap must be tagged with your name, address, or DNR ID number
• Nonresidents must hold a valid Class E, XXJ, AAH, or AAHJ license and a CS/LE stamp, or a Class E-L license to trap

For the most current trap-size specifications and any season-date updates, always check the WVDNR’s official hunting regulations page before heading out. Season dates and limits are reviewed annually and can shift based on population data, so check the current year’s regulations summary before setting any traps.

Can You Relocate a Raccoon Instead of Killing It in West Virginia?

Many homeowners assume that catching a raccoon alive and releasing it somewhere far away is the humane, legal solution. In West Virginia, that assumption is wrong. The WVDNR is explicit on this point.

If you are removing nuisance wildlife from a building, you must release it on the same property. Moving animals to another location is illegal. Relocating animals greatly increases the probability of introducing disease to new areas.

Raccoons may not be relocated without prior approval from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The disease concern is not minor. Because raccoons often carry rabies, they should not be relocated when live-trapped. Releasing a potentially rabid animal into a new area puts other wildlife, pets, and people at risk — which is exactly why the state prohibits it without authorization.

If you trap a raccoon and on-property release is not practical, the legally recognized alternative is humane dispatch. You can also contact your local WVDNR district office to discuss your options before trapping begins. For a look at how a neighboring state handles similar situations, see the guide on killing raccoons in Virginia, where the rules differ in several key ways.

Pro Tip: Before setting any live trap, have a clear, legal plan for what you will do with the raccoon once it is caught. Catching one and then having no authorized next step is a common mistake that can put you in legal jeopardy.

Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in West Virginia

If navigating permits, trap rules, and dispatch methods feels overwhelming, you have the option of hiring a professional. West Virginia licenses a specific category of professional for exactly this purpose.

A Wildlife Damage Control Agent (WDCA) is a professional who is licensed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to operate a business specializing in nuisance wildlife and wildlife damage control. They charge for their services like any other privately-owned business, and WDCAs in West Virginia must complete and pass a rigorous course requirement before being licensed.

Rigorous training, testing, appropriate fees, and a West Virginia business license are all required before a WDCA can operate legally. This means that when you hire one, you are working with someone who has been vetted by the state — not just a general pest control company.

A licensed WDCA can handle the full process: assessing the situation, obtaining any necessary permits, trapping or dispatching the animal, and advising you on exclusion methods to prevent future conflicts. Some nuisance wildlife control actions will require a permit from the WVDNR, and you may also wish to employ the services of a licensed wildlife damage control agent to effectively address your wildlife damage issues.

To find a licensed WDCA near you, contact your local WVDNR district office through the nuisance wildlife page, which maintains a list of active agents. You can also find helpful general guidance at WildlifeHelp.org’s West Virginia raccoon removal page, a resource presented by government wildlife management agencies.

West Virginia’s wildlife landscape is rich and varied. If you are dealing with other animal conflicts or wildlife questions in the state, these resources may also help: when bears come out of hibernation in West Virginia, endangered animals in West Virginia, and roadkill laws in West Virginia.

Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in West Virginia

State law sets the floor for wildlife regulation in West Virginia, but local governments can layer additional restrictions on top of it. This is an area where many people get caught off guard.

Municipalities and counties can enact ordinances that restrict firearm discharge within city or town limits, limit the use of certain trap types in residential areas, or require additional permits before any wildlife removal takes place on private property. Discharging firearms in developed areas is often prohibited by local safety ordinances and state hunting laws, regardless of what state wildlife law permits.

Some counties may also have specific rules about what constitutes a nuisance animal, what evidence of damage you need to document before taking action, or how close to a residence or road you can discharge a firearm. Before taking any action, check with your county or municipal government directly. A call to your local sheriff’s office or city hall can clarify what local rules apply in your specific location.

Scenario	State Law Allows?	Local Ordinance May Restrict?
Shooting raccoon during open season on rural land	Yes, with valid license	Generally no, but verify county rules
Shooting raccoon in suburban backyard	Possibly, with Wildlife Damage Permit	Yes — firearm discharge ordinances common
Live trapping on your property	Yes, during season or with permit	Some municipalities restrict trap placement
Relocating a trapped raccoon off-property	No — illegal without WVDNR approval	N/A — state prohibition applies statewide
Night hunting with artificial light	Yes — explicitly permitted for raccoons	Yes — local noise and discharge rules may apply

If your property sits near a city limit or within an incorporated area, it is worth a call to your local government before taking any action. State wildlife law and local ordinances operate on separate tracks, and you need to be compliant with both. For related wildlife law questions in West Virginia, you may also find it useful to review dog bite laws in West Virginia, hedgehog ownership laws in West Virginia, and pit bull laws in West Virginia for additional context on how the state regulates human-animal interactions.

The bottom line: killing a raccoon in West Virginia is legal, but it is not unconditional. You need the right season, the right permit, or both — and you need to stay within whatever additional rules your local government has put in place. When in doubt, contact your nearest WVDNR district office before acting. A five-minute phone call is far cheaper than a wildlife violation.