Nuisance Wildlife Laws in Utah: What Every Property Owner Needs to Know

Utah’s diverse landscape — from the red rock deserts of the south to the Wasatch Front suburbs of the north — puts residents in frequent contact with wildlife. Raccoons raiding backyard gardens, coyotes threatening livestock, and ground squirrels tunneling under foundations are everyday realities for Utah homeowners. Knowing exactly what the law allows you to do about these conflicts can be the difference between a resolved problem and a costly legal mistake.

Utah’s wildlife control laws offer a structured framework for addressing human-wildlife conflicts, and compliance with these regulations is important — consequences for violating them can be significant. This article walks you through what counts as a nuisance animal under Utah law, your rights as a property owner, and the specific rules you must follow when taking action.

Important Note: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Wildlife regulations can change; always verify current rules with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) before taking action.

What Counts as Nuisance Wildlife in Utah

Under Utah statutes, all wildlife is the property of the state unless held in private ownership. That foundational rule shapes everything about how nuisance conflicts are handled. The state draws a practical line between “protected” wildlife — which requires permits to disturb or remove — and “nonprotected” or unclassified species that can be managed more freely.

Summer gardening is a popular pastime in Utah, and pesky wildlife or “nuisance animals” can damage crops and property in gardens and orchards. The types of animals and damage vary depending on which part of the state your garden is located. A Utah State University Extension faculty member noted that southeastern and northern Utah see a lot of raccoons and skunks, while central and southern Utah deal with prairie dogs and squirrels. Bugs, birds, and mice are also common throughout the state.

Common nuisance wildlife addressed under Utah’s wildlife control laws includes rodents such as mice and rats, which can cause property damage and pose health risks; birds like pigeons and starlings that roost on buildings or damage crops; bats that roost in attics leading to noise and guano issues; and large mammals like raccoons, skunks, and coyotes that scavenge through garbage or prey on pets.

Utah law classifies animals into three broad tiers relevant to nuisance situations: nonprotected species (no permit needed to kill), controlled or prohibited species (permit required), and federally protected species (governed by federal law regardless of state rules). Understanding which tier your problem animal falls into is the first step before taking any action.

Your Rights as a Property Owner in Utah

As a Utah property owner, you have meaningful rights to protect your land, livestock, and crops from wildlife damage — but those rights operate within a state-managed system. All wildlife in Utah is the property of the state unless held in private ownership, which means you cannot simply treat nuisance animals as your own to dispose of without following state rules.

On and after May 1, 2024, new development in the state is considered infringing on existing wildlife habitat, and a person who makes a wildlife damage or nuisance claim related to that new development may not qualify for a wildlife damage or nuisance claim against the state or a political subdivision. Notwithstanding that rule, the division may still mitigate wildlife damage or nuisances impacting a new development. If you purchased or developed property after May 2024, keep this limitation in mind when seeking state assistance.

Certain animals do not require a license or permit to hunt or trap. Administrative Rule R657-3b states that a person may trap and kill coyotes, field mice, pocket gophers, ground squirrels, jackrabbits, muskrats, and raccoons at any time without a license. The red fox and striped skunk are also included as species not requiring a license or permit. For these animals, your right to act is broad — though humane methods and local ordinances still apply.

For protected wildlife, your rights narrow considerably. You must obtain a certificate of registration from the Utah DWR, follow specific removal guidelines, and in some cases coordinate directly with the division before acting. Landowners dealing with big game damage to crops or fences have a separate pathway through depredation permits. See how Colorado handles similar landowner rights for a regional comparison.

Pro Tip: Even for species you can legally kill without a permit, local city or county ordinances may impose additional restrictions — especially within Salt Lake City, Provo, or other municipalities. Check with your local government before trapping or shooting any animal in a residential area.

Legal Methods for Removing Nuisance Wildlife in Utah

When managing nuisance wildlife in Utah, it is essential to employ legal methods of control to ensure compliance with state regulations and ethical standards. Utilizing humane trapping and exclusion methods is important for resolving conflicts with wildlife while respecting their well-being.

Utah law and wildlife management guidance recognize several approved approaches:

• Exclusion and habitat modification: Integrated pest management strategies like fencing can prevent wildlife from entering properties. Sealing entry points, removing food attractants, and installing hardware cloth are the first line of defense the DWR recommends.
• Live trapping: Live trapping is a common method used to capture nuisance wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, or squirrels without causing harm to the animals. Once captured, your legal options are limited — see the Relocation Rules section below.
• Kill traps: In some locations, a kill trap may be a better option than a live trap. The proper size of the kill trap should be used depending on the size of the target animal. Catching a nontarget animal, such as a dog or cat, in a kill trap is possible, so use extreme caution.
• Lethal removal of certain birds: A person is not required to obtain a certificate of registration or a federal permit to kill a house sparrow (Passer domesticus), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), or domestic pigeon or rock pigeon (Columba livia) when found damaging personal or real property, or when concentrated in such numbers as to constitute a health hazard or other nuisance — provided an attempt to control the birds using non-lethal methods occurs before using lethal methods.

A Utah State University wildlife expert advises using barriers, habitat modification, and deterrents to manage pests before escalating to lethal methods. This staged approach also aligns with the legal requirement to attempt non-lethal control before lethal action for certain bird species under Rule R657-3b.

For big game animals causing crop or fence damage, a different process applies. When deer, elk, pronghorn, or moose are causing damage to cultivated crops on cleared and planted land, or livestock forage, fences, or irrigation equipment on private land, or are determined to be a nuisance, antlerless or doe hunts not listed in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board may be held. These hunts occur on short notice, involve small areas, and are limited to only a few hunters. Contact the DWR directly to initiate this process. For a look at how neighboring states handle big game conflicts, see the Arizona nuisance wildlife laws guide.

Relocation Rules in Utah

This is one of the most misunderstood areas of Utah wildlife law — and one of the most consequential. Many property owners assume that catching an animal in a live trap and releasing it somewhere else is the humane and legal solution. Under Utah law, it is neither.

According to a Utah State University Extension wildlife expert, relocating an animal is illegal under state law. Relocation gets the wildlife out of your garden, but it can cause problems for somebody else. The animals often find their way back to their previous home. Relocation also leads to bigger issues: the animals can spread diseases and may struggle in their new, unfamiliar environment.

If you do trap an animal in your backyard, you can euthanize it or release it where it was caught. Those are your two legal options for most species. Driving a raccoon to a park across town and releasing it there violates state law, regardless of how well-intentioned the act may be.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program and other wildlife professionals state that translocating wild mammals is not a biologically sound practice. Several national and international veterinary associations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association and the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, oppose wildlife translocation because of disease risks.

Key Insight: The no-relocation rule applies broadly to mammals commonly live-trapped in Utah. If you are unsure whether a specific species can be relocated under any circumstances, call the Utah DWR before releasing any animal away from your property.

Residents in other states often face similar restrictions. Compare Utah’s approach with Washington state’s nuisance wildlife relocation rules and Minnesota’s framework to see how the western and midwestern states align on this issue.

Species With Special Rules in Utah

Several animals common to Utah require extra care because they fall under state or federal protections that override the general nuisance framework. Acting without understanding these rules can result in federal charges, not just state fines.

Bats

All bat species in Utah are protected under state law. Bats can become a nuisance when they roost in attics or other structures, leading to noise and guano accumulation issues. However, you cannot kill or trap bats without a certificate of registration from the DWR. Exclusion — sealing entry points after bats have left for the evening — is the only legal self-help remedy. Many bat species are also protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act framework and are covered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Utah Prairie Dogs

The Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens) is a federally threatened species found primarily in southern Utah. A certificate of registration is required to take a Utah prairie dog, as provided in Rule R657-19. This is not a species you can trap and kill on your own, even if it is damaging your property. However, Gunnison prairie dogs and white-tailed prairie dogs causing agricultural damage or creating a nuisance on private land may be taken at any time, including during the closed season from April 1 through June 15. Know which species is on your land before acting.

Migratory Birds

Most songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which applies regardless of state rules. A person is not required to obtain a certificate of registration to kill a house sparrow, European starling, or rock pigeon when found damaging personal or real property — but virtually every other bird species requires federal authorization. Do not attempt to trap or kill any bird other than these three without first confirming its status.

Raccoons

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are non-native to Utah and are classified as a nuisance species. Raccoons, although cute, are non-native to Utah and can be detrimental to native wildlife. Administrative Rule R657-3b states that a person may trap and kill raccoons at any time without a license. That said, if you want to keep the pelt, a furbearer trapping permit is required. See how other states treat raccoons in the Ohio nuisance wildlife laws guide and the Michigan guide.

Coyotes and Foxes

Coyotes (Canis latrans) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are classified as predatory animals under Utah law. They may be trapped and killed to protect agriculture and livestock production and do not require a license or permit to hunt or trap. County ordinances may allow spotlighting of coyotes, red foxes, striped skunks, and raccoons at night under specific conditions — check with your county before attempting night hunting.

Species	Permit Required to Kill?	Can Relocate?	Special Notes
Raccoon	No	No	Furbearer permit needed to keep pelt
Coyote	No	No	Night hunting allowed by county ordinance
Red Fox / Striped Skunk	No	No	Included as nonprotected under R657-3b
Utah Prairie Dog	Yes (Certificate of Registration)	No	Federally threatened species
Bats (all species)	Yes	No	Exclusion only; state and federal protections apply
House Sparrow / Starling / Rock Pigeon	No (lethal, after non-lethal attempt)	No	Non-lethal methods must be tried first
Deer / Elk / Pronghorn	Yes (depredation permit through DWR)	No	Contact DWR for nuisance/depredation hunt

When You Need a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Utah

Seeking help from licensed wildlife control professionals ensures that legal and ethical guidelines are followed when dealing with nuisance wildlife, guaranteeing a safe and effective resolution to the issue. In Utah, businesses that conduct nuisance wildlife control commercially must hold a certificate of registration from the DWR.

Wildlife rehabilitators are independent operators licensed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources but are not affiliated with the Division. The DWR does not necessarily endorse any of these rehabilitators but does oversee their operations for compliance with the requirements of their Certificates of Registration.

You should strongly consider calling a licensed operator when:

• The problem animal is a protected species (bats, raptors, Utah prairie dogs, or any migratory bird)
• The animal may be rabid or otherwise ill and poses a public health risk
• You need to remove an animal from inside a structure, such as bats in an attic or a skunk under a deck
• You are in a municipality where discharging firearms or setting certain traps is restricted by local ordinance
• You are dealing with a big game animal and need to coordinate a depredation hunt through the DWR

The Utah DWR lists private businesses offering a variety of urban wildlife nuisance control services on its website at wildlife.utah.gov. Utah’s Hogle Zoo, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and the Berryman Institute at Utah State University have also partnered to develop tools to educate individuals and communities about how to live, work, and recreate safely in wildlife habitats in Utah through the Wild Aware Utah program.

For context on how neighboring states structure their licensed operator requirements, see the Nevada guide or the California nuisance wildlife laws overview. States like Texas and Florida also maintain robust licensed operator frameworks worth comparing.

Penalties for Violating Nuisance Wildlife Laws in Utah

Violating wildlife laws in Utah can result in significant penalties, including fines and potential legal consequences. Enforcement procedures for wildlife law violations are taken seriously in Utah to ensure the protection of native species and their habitats.

Utah’s Wildlife Resources Code (Title 23A) structures penalties by offense severity. Penalties for hunting, fishing, and poaching crimes in Utah vary based on the severity of the offense, with a Class A misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail and associated fines. Violations involving protected wildlife — including unlawfully killing a bat, disturbing a federally threatened species like the Utah prairie dog, or releasing captive wildlife — can escalate to felony charges.

Any violation of Rule R657-19 (nongame mammals, including Utah prairie dogs) is a Class C misdemeanor. In addition, any animal designated as a threatened or endangered species is governed by the Endangered Species Act, and the unlawful taking of these species may also be a violation of federal law and rules promulgated thereunder.

Beyond criminal penalties, courts can order restitution payments for illegally taken wildlife. When a person is adjudged guilty of illegal taking, illegal possession, or wanton destruction of protected wildlife, the court may order restitution. For trophy animals, minimum restitution values are substantial — for example, $45,000 per animal for bighorn, desert, or Rocky Mountain sheep.

The division uses restitution money for activities and programs to help stop poaching, including educational programs on wildlife crime prevention, acquisition and development of wildlife crime detection equipment, and operation and maintenance of anti-poaching projects.

Important Note: Releasing a captured animal at a location other than where it was caught is illegal under Utah law and can result in criminal charges. The same applies to releasing captive or imported wildlife into the wild without DWR authorization under Utah Code § 23A-5-309.

Permit revocations add another layer of consequences. The division may deny issuing or renewing a certificate of registration to any applicant who has violated the Wildlife Resources Code of Utah, Title R657, or any other applicable law bearing a reasonable relationship to the applicant’s ability to safely and responsibly carry out collecting, importing, possessing, or propagating activities. Losing your certificate of registration can shut down a wildlife control business entirely.

Understanding Utah’s nuisance wildlife laws protects both you and the animals you share the landscape with. When in doubt, contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before taking action — a quick phone call is far less costly than a misdemeanor or felony charge. Property owners in other states can find similar state-by-state breakdowns for New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee to compare how their own states handle these conflicts.