Can You Kill Raccoons in Colorado? What the Law Actually Allows

Raccoons are resourceful animals, and Colorado’s urban and suburban areas — from the Denver metro to the Front Range foothills — give them plenty of opportunity to raid garbage cans, tear into attics, and raid chicken coops. If one has turned up on your property, your first question is probably whether you can legally do something about it.

The short answer is yes, but only under specific conditions. Colorado law gives landowners meaningful options for dealing with nuisance raccoons, while also setting clear rules about permits, methods, and what happens after you make a catch. Getting those details wrong can expose you to fines and legal liability, so it pays to understand the rules before you act.

Important Note: Colorado state law sets the baseline for raccoon control, but local city and county ordinances can be more restrictive. Always check with your municipality before trapping or shooting on your property.

Are Raccoons Protected in Colorado?

Raccoons are not listed as a threatened or endangered species in Colorado, but they are regulated wildlife under state law. In general, it is illegal to own wildlife in Colorado — as a public resource, wildlife belongs to the state. That ownership status matters because it shapes what you can and cannot do when a raccoon becomes a problem on your land.

Raccoons are classified as furbearers under Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) regulations, alongside species such as mink, badger, red fox, bobcat, and coyote. That classification means they fall under both furbearer hunting regulations and nuisance wildlife provisions, depending on the situation you are dealing with.

Raccoons are also specifically prohibited for private possession in Colorado. You cannot keep a live raccoon as a pet, and you cannot hold one in captivity without CPW authorization. If you trap a raccoon, you must either release it on site, kill it on site, or relocate it under the conditions described below — you cannot simply cage it and keep it around.

When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in Colorado?

Colorado law creates two separate pathways for legally killing a raccoon: the nuisance/damage pathway and the hunting season pathway. Understanding which one applies to your situation determines whether you need a license.

Under Colorado Statute 33-6-107(9) and Wildlife Commission Regulations, if wildlife is causing damage to crops, real or personal property, or livestock, a person — or any employee or agent of the landowner — may hunt, trap, or take raccoons on lands owned or leased by that person without securing a license. This is the provision most homeowners and ranchers rely on. If a raccoon is actively damaging your property, you can act without a hunting license.

It is also permissible to hunt raccoons with a proper permit between the dates of September 1 and February 28. Outside of a property-damage situation, you need a valid license to pursue raccoons during the open season. A small game or furbearer license is required to take raccoons under the standard hunting framework.

Pro Tip: Even when no license is required for property damage, the kill must still be reported to CPW within five days, and the raccoon remains the property of the state. Do not sell or keep the carcass without holding an appropriate small game or furbearer license.

Any wildlife killed under nuisance provisions shall remain the property of the state, and such killing shall be reported to CPW within five days. The pelts or hides may be transferred, possessed, traded, bartered, or sold by any person who holds an appropriate small game or furbearer license.

You can also read how neighboring states handle similar situations, including raccoon laws in Kansas and raccoon laws in Wyoming — states that border Colorado and follow somewhat different rules.

Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in Colorado

Colorado law does not give you a blank check on methods. Trapping and shooting are the most common methods for taking nuisance wildlife. If using firearms, you must check with your local authorities on the laws that apply to discharging a firearm in your area.

The permitted means of taking furbearers include rifles or handguns, handheld bows, shotguns, traps, and crossbows. Any method not specifically listed in CPW regulations is prohibited, so stick to these approved options.

Shooting at night on private land is allowed under certain conditions. Artificial light may be used at night to take raccoons on private land with permission of the landowner, designated agent, lessee, or authorized employee. If you are not the landowner, you need written authorization that names you, identifies the target species, and specifies the time period and area covered.

Poison is a different matter. Poisons may only be used for species indicated on the label, and application directions must be followed in order for poison to be lawful. Regardless of whether a poison or toxicant is legal by statute, it is your responsibility to check with local authorities about restrictions on specific poisons and toxicants at your location. No poison is approved specifically for raccoons in Colorado, so this method is effectively off the table.

For comparison, see how other states approach this issue, including killing raccoons in Texas and killing raccoons in Ohio, where the rules differ meaningfully from Colorado’s framework.

Trapping Raccoons in Colorado: Rules and Restrictions

Trapping is the most common approach Colorado residents use when dealing with nuisance raccoons, and CPW has detailed rules about what equipment you can use, how often you must check traps, and what you can do with an animal once caught.

Allowed Trap Types

If trapping, the only types of traps that may be used are live cage or box traps — unless you qualify for an exception. Colorado’s Amendment 14, passed by ballot initiative in November 1996, banned the use of traps such as snares, Conibears, leghold traps, and similar devices for general use.

Landowners, and others authorized by statute, may be eligible for a 30-day trapping permit where certain body grip devices, cable device traps, foothold traps, and similar equipment can be used in order to protect commercial livestock or commercial crop production. This is a narrow exception that applies mainly to agricultural operations, not typical residential situations.

Trap Check Requirements

All live traps must be visually checked at least once every day. Failing to check your trap daily is a violation of CPW regulations. If you are trapping in the Canada lynx recovery area or on properties known to be occupied by Canada lynx, traps must be checked every 24 hours.

All live traps placed on public lands must be labeled permanently and legibly with the trapper’s Customer Identification Number (CID) in a location visible without manipulating the trap. If the trapper does not have a CID, the trap must be labeled with the trapper’s name. Live traps not properly labeled may be confiscated by any Wildlife Officer.

What to Do After You Catch a Raccoon

Unless relocation has been authorized, small game and furbearers captured in live traps cannot be moved from the capture site and must be killed or released on site when the trap is checked. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood rules in Colorado — you cannot simply drive the raccoon to a park and let it go without following the relocation process described below.

Important Note: Raccoons are a known rabies vector species. CPW and wildlife professionals strongly advise against handling raccoons without proper protective equipment. If a raccoon appears disoriented or is active during daylight hours, contact CPW or a licensed wildlife control operator before approaching it.

For a broader look at how trapping rules compare across state lines, the articles on raccoon laws in Virginia and raccoon laws in Pennsylvania offer useful context.

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

Relocation is an option in Colorado, but the state has tighter restrictions on raccoon relocation than on species like tree squirrels or cottontail rabbits. If you want to relocate rather than kill, you must follow a specific set of conditions.

Raccoons trapped in cage or box traps may be relocated without a permit provided the Division has been notified in advance; the relocation site is appropriate habitat for the species; permission has been obtained from the private landowner where the animal will be released; and relocation occurs within two miles of the capture site for raccoons.

That two-mile limit is a hard rule. The relocation must occur within 10 miles of the capture site for squirrels and rabbits, but only within 2 miles for raccoons. The shorter radius for raccoons reflects disease-spread concerns, particularly around rabies. You also cannot release a raccoon onto public open space or parks — the City of Louisville, for example, strictly prohibits relocating animals onto open space or parks property. Similar restrictions exist in many Colorado municipalities.

The pre-notification requirement is real. You must notify Colorado Parks and Wildlife in advance and secure permission from the landowner or managing agency where the animal will be released ahead of time. Skipping that step means your relocation is not legal, even if the distance is within two miles.

If you want to relocate any other furbearer species beyond raccoons, squirrels, and rabbits, you must obtain a Relocation Permit from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

See how relocation rules compare in other states, including raccoon laws in Michigan and raccoon laws in Minnesota, where the relocation distance limits and notification requirements differ.

Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Colorado

If you are not comfortable trapping or killing a raccoon yourself, or if the situation is complex — such as a raccoon that has denned in your attic or chimney — hiring a licensed wildlife control operator (WCO) is the most practical path. No free agency will come to your house to take care of a raccoon conflict on your property. CPW can answer questions about state law and may suggest registered companies, but it will not dispatch an officer to handle your raccoon problem.

State-licensed and certified wildlife control technicians are authorized to remove animals from your property humanely and without damaging the environment with harsh chemicals or pesticides. Licensed operators understand the CPW regulations around trapping, relocation distances, and disposal, which reduces your legal exposure compared to handling the situation yourself.

When choosing a company, look for one that is licensed, bonded, and insured by the state of Colorado. Never hire a pest control company that uses poisons to address a raccoon problem. Contact a dedicated wildlife professional, and before you hire, ask about their methods. Reputable operators will also address the entry points raccoons used to access your home — no job is complete without proper exclusion repairs, because if you simply hire a trapper who only removes the critters, the problem will return.

You can contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife nuisance wildlife page for guidance on finding licensed operators in your region. CPW can point you toward registered companies and clarify which methods are lawful in your specific county.

For context on how professional wildlife removal works in other states, the articles on raccoon laws in Illinois and raccoon laws in Indiana walk through similar licensing frameworks.

Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in Colorado

State law sets the floor, not the ceiling. The information from CPW notes what is restricted by state statutes and permitted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations; however, local laws and ordinances may be more specific about what is allowed at a certain location. The more restrictive laws and regulations must always be followed.

Firearm discharge restrictions are the most common local override. Within city limits, many Colorado municipalities prohibit any person — except a law enforcement officer in the performance of duties — from firing or discharging a revolver, pistol, shotgun, rifle, air gun, gas-operated gun, or spring gun. That effectively eliminates shooting as an option for urban and suburban residents even when state law would otherwise permit it.

Public land rules are another layer. Many Colorado cities prohibit taking, injuring, or relocating wildlife onto open space, parks, or other public property regardless of what the state nuisance wildlife statutes allow. Local laws and ordinances may be more specific about what is allowed at a certain location, and it is your responsibility to determine whether it is legal to use a particular method of take in your city or county.

Before you trap or shoot, call your city or county directly to ask about local discharge ordinances, open space restrictions, and any municipal codes that address wildlife removal. You can also check Colorado’s nuisance wildlife law summary from Colorado State University Extension for a plain-language breakdown of the state statutes, then cross-reference it with your local municipal code.

For additional state-by-state comparisons, see the guides on raccoon laws in Georgia, raccoon laws in North Carolina, and raccoon laws in Maryland, all of which follow a similar structure of state law plus local ordinance layering. You may also find the article on roadkill laws in Colorado useful if a raccoon is struck by a vehicle on your property or nearby road.

The bottom line in Colorado: you have real legal options when raccoons damage your property, but the rules around trap types, relocation distances, nighttime shooting, and local discharge ordinances mean you need to do your homework before acting. When in doubt, contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife directly — they can confirm what is permitted in your specific location and help you avoid an unintentional violation.