Wildlife Removal Laws in Alabama: What Property Owners Need to Know

A raccoon in your attic, a beaver flooding your pasture, or a skunk denning under your porch — Alabama homeowners face these situations regularly. Knowing what the law allows you to do on your own, and when you need professional help, can save you from fines, trap confiscations, and potential misdemeanor charges.

Alabama’s wildlife removal rules are governed primarily by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) through the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF). The key regulation you need to understand is Alabama Administrative Code Rule 220-2-.27, which sets the conditions under which protected wildlife may be taken, captured, or killed. This guide walks you through every major rule so you can act confidently and legally.

Pro Tip: When in doubt about a specific species or situation, contact your county’s WFF District Office before taking any action. Getting guidance upfront is far easier than dealing with a violation after the fact.

Can You Remove Wildlife Yourself in Alabama?

Yes — but only within narrow limits. Alabama law draws a clear line between minor nuisance situations a property owner can handle independently and larger-scale removal that requires a permit or a licensed professional.

A property owner or tenant is allowed to take one squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, beaver, or skunk per incident that is causing damage to their property without a permit. The phrase “per incident” matters here: this is not a blanket authorization to trap multiple animals freely. Each individual nuisance event gives you a single-animal allowance.

A property owner or his agent may also take blackbirds without a permit when found causing damage or posing a nuisance or health threat. Beyond those specific carve-outs, most other wildlife removal on your property requires either a Wildlife Damage Permit from the ADCNR or the services of a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO).

In the majority of situations, eliminating attractants or implementing easy exclusionary or diversionary practices will resolve a homeowner’s concern with wildlife that is being considered a nuisance. The WFF recommends starting with non-lethal deterrents — securing trash cans, removing pet food from outside, and sealing entry points — before moving to trapping or lethal methods.

Which Animals Can Be Removed Without a Permit in Alabama?

Alabama law gives property owners limited self-help rights for a defined list of common nuisance species. Understanding exactly which animals fall into this category — and the conditions attached — keeps you on the right side of the law.

A property owner or tenant is allowed to take one squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, beaver, or skunk per incident that is causing damage to their property without a permit. The animal must actually be causing damage to your property; you cannot preemptively trap animals that have not yet caused a problem.

Blackbirds may also be taken without a permit by a property owner or agent when found causing damage or posing a nuisance or health threat. Coyotes occupy a unique position in Alabama law: feral swine and coyotes are species for which the necessity of demonstrating specific damage is not required when a permit is sought, making them easier to address through the formal permit process than most other species.

The table below summarizes the permit-free removal allowances for property owners under Alabama Administrative Code Rule 220-2-.27:

Species	Permit-Free Allowance	Condition Required
Squirrel	1 per incident	Causing property damage
Rabbit	1 per incident	Causing property damage
Raccoon	1 per incident	Causing property damage
Opossum	1 per incident	Causing property damage
Beaver	1 per incident	Causing property damage
Skunk	1 per incident	Causing property damage
Blackbirds	Unlimited	Causing damage, nuisance, or health threat

All other wildlife — including white-tailed deer, Canada geese, foxes, bats, and migratory birds — requires a permit or professional involvement before any removal action is taken.

Which Animals Require a Licensed Wildlife Removal Professional in Alabama?

Many of Alabama’s most common wildlife conflicts involve species that are fully protected under state or federal law. Attempting to remove these animals without proper authorization exposes you to significant legal risk.

The WFF may permit the take of protected wildlife, such as white-tailed deer and Canada geese, when they are causing crop damage, property damage, or concern for human safety. However, these permits are not automatic. Permits may be granted only after WFF staff determines that the wildlife should be removed for human safety or to protect agricultural crops or other property from excessive damage.

Furbearers — the category that includes many of Alabama’s most frequently encountered nuisance animals — carry their own set of rules. The following species are designated as fur-bearing animals in Alabama: beaver, bobcat, fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, otter, raccoon, striped skunk, coyote, and feral swine. While some of these (raccoon, opossum, beaver, skunk) fall under the one-per-incident permit-free rule, others — particularly bobcat, otter, fox, and mink — require a licensed professional or a formal permit.

Migratory birds, including most songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl, are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act in addition to Alabama state law. No state-level permit overrides federal protections. If you have a conflict with a migratory bird species, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or your local WFF District Office for guidance.

Bats are another species that frequently cause homeowner problems — particularly when roosting in attics — and they require careful handling. Alabama does not allow the killing of bats during maternity season (typically May through August) when young are present. A licensed NWCO experienced in bat exclusion is the safest and most legally sound option.

Important Note: Squirrels are game animals in Alabama and are therefore protected by state wildlife laws. Squirrels are considered game animals in Alabama, which means they are protected by the state’s wildlife laws and regulations. The one-per-incident permit-free allowance is a narrow exception, not a general hunting right outside of open season.

Trapping Rules and Legal Methods in Alabama

Whether you are handling a nuisance animal under the one-per-incident rule or operating under a Wildlife Damage Permit, Alabama’s trapping regulations impose specific requirements on how you trap and dispatch animals. Ignoring these rules — even while acting within your permit rights — can result in separate violations.

Any person trapping fur-bearing animals (except feral swine) in Alabama must carry a choke stick while running traps. When trapped fur-bearing animals are dispatched with a firearm, only standard .22 caliber rimfire firearms may be used. Feral swine may be dispatched by any firearm or sharpened blade.

It is illegal to set a trap on top of a post or stake elevated above ground level. It is also unlawful for any person to possess a furbearer alive beyond the confines of the trap without a permit from the Commissioner of the ADCNR. Except for feral swine, all furbearers must be immediately dispatched or released at the trap site.

For commercial or nuisance-control trapping of furbearers, a fur catcher’s license is required. Any person who has been a bona fide resident of Alabama for 90 days preceding may procure a resident trapping license by paying the sum of $20. Traps must also be properly identified: it is unlawful for any person to trap in Alabama without identifying each trap with a metal tag bearing adequate information to identify the owner.

Regarding open seasons, there is no closed season for beaver, coyote, raccoon, opossum, and nutria in Alabama. Other furbearer species have defined open trapping seasons set by the ADCNR Commissioner. A permit may be obtained through your local District Office for the trapping of nuisance furbearers outside the dates of trapping season.

If you take bobcat or otter through any method, additional tagging rules apply. All bobcat and otter, regardless of method of harvest, are required to be tagged by a representative of the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division within 14 days of harvest.

Pro Tip: Always check your traps at least once every 24 hours. Leaving a live animal in a trap for extended periods can constitute animal cruelty under Alabama law, separate from any wildlife regulation violation.

Can You Relocate Wildlife in Alabama?

Relocation is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Alabama wildlife law. Many homeowners assume that catching an animal alive and releasing it somewhere else is the humane and legal solution. In Alabama, that assumption can get you into legal trouble.

Live-caught animals may not be relocated across a county line or a major river drainage. This restriction applies regardless of whether you trapped the animal under the one-per-incident permit-free rule or under a formal Wildlife Damage Permit. Driving a raccoon to the next county and releasing it there is a violation of Alabama law.

The reasoning behind this rule is ecological: relocating animals across drainage basins or county lines can spread disease (particularly rabies and distemper), disrupt established wildlife populations, and introduce animals into habitats where they may not survive or may outcompete native species.

It is unlawful to possess a furbearer alive beyond the confines of the trap without a permit. Except for feral swine, all furbearers must be immediately dispatched or released at the trap site. In practical terms, this means if you trap a raccoon or skunk under the one-per-incident rule, your legal options at the trap site are to release it on your property or dispatch it — not transport it elsewhere.

If you believe relocation is the appropriate solution for a particular situation, consult a licensed NWCO. Some operators hold permits that allow limited transport under conditions approved by the ADCNR, and they can advise you on what is and is not permissible for the specific species involved.

For a comparison of how other states handle relocation restrictions, see how Tennessee wildlife removal laws approach the same issue, or review the rules in Georgia wildlife removal laws, which share Alabama’s concern about cross-region disease transmission.

Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Alabama

When a wildlife situation exceeds what the one-per-incident rule covers, or when you are dealing with a protected species, a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator is your best path forward. Alabama’s ADCNR maintains a formal permitting system for these professionals.

Any person, firm, or corporation engaging in the business of wildlife damage control must obtain a permit from the ADCNR prior to taking, capturing, or killing wildlife and must conduct wildlife damage control only under terms and conditions specified by the Commissioner or his designee.

The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries typically does not remove nuisance wildlife from private property unless public safety is at risk. Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators are permitted by the Division to remove nuisance wildlife at the landowner’s or tenant’s expense.

The Division does not have regulatory authority over NWCOs other than permitting them to “take” protected wildlife. Therefore, the ADCNR cannot guarantee the quality of service, although every reasonable effort is made to exclude disreputable individuals from the permitting process. This means you should vet any operator you hire independently.

When hiring an NWCO in Alabama, ask for the following before signing any agreement:

• Their current ADCNR nuisance control permit number
• Proof of liability insurance
• A written estimate and scope of work
• Their plan for disposal or dispatch of captured animals
• Whether they offer exclusion services to prevent re-entry

Licensed NWCOs are required to submit reports twice a year that include the number of animals caught, what species were caught, and how the animals were disposed of. This reporting requirement helps the ADCNR track nuisance wildlife trends statewide and ensures operators are accountable for their work.

The ADCNR’s official list of permitted NWCOs is organized by county and includes contact information and the species each operator is authorized to handle. This is the safest starting point when searching for a qualified professional.

You can also compare how neighboring states structure their licensing systems. See Florida wildlife removal laws and North Carolina wildlife removal laws for context on regional approaches to NWCO permitting.

Penalties for Illegal Wildlife Removal in Alabama

Alabama takes wildlife violations seriously. Penalties range from modest fines for minor trapping infractions to misdemeanor convictions, loss of hunting privileges, and even jail time for more serious offenses — particularly those involving deer and turkey.

For general trapping violations, a violation constitutes a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, the person is punished by a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $2,000 for each offense. Officers who discover a trapping device used in violation of state regulations may also confiscate the device, which becomes property of the ADCNR.

Violations involving deer or turkey carry steeper consequences. Any person who violates the provisions of Section 9-11-244 with respect to taking, catching, or killing deer or turkey shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $500, and at the discretion of the court may have all hunting privileges revoked for up to one year. The second and each subsequent offense carries a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $2,000, automatic loss of hunting privileges for one year, and at the discretion of the trial court judge, imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not less than 10 nor more than 30 days.

Trapping or removing wildlife on someone else’s land without permission adds another layer of liability. Any person who hunts, traps, captures, injures, kills, or destroys any wild game on the lands of another without the written permission of the landowner shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of not less than $1,000, and at the discretion of the court may have all hunting license privileges revoked for up to one year.

Federal violations — such as disturbing migratory birds or their nests without a federal permit — carry entirely separate penalties under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which can include fines up to $15,000 and potential felony charges for commercial-scale violations.

The bottom line: the cost of a licensed professional is almost always far less than the cost of a wildlife violation. If you are unsure whether your planned action is legal, contact the Alabama WFF or your local District Office before proceeding.

For a broader look at how wildlife removal laws vary across the country, explore the rules in states like Texas, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania to see how your state’s approach compares.