Raccoons are a common source of frustration for Nevada homeowners, farmers, and property managers. Whether one has been raiding your trash cans in Reno, nesting in your attic in Las Vegas, or damaging crops in rural Elko County, the question of what you can legally do about it matters — and the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.
Nevada law gives you more flexibility with raccoons than many people expect, but it also comes with real restrictions around trapping, relocation, and discharge of firearms. Getting those details wrong can mean fines, confiscated equipment, or worse. This guide walks you through exactly what Nevada law permits, what it prohibits, and what your best options are depending on your situation.
Are Raccoons Protected in Nevada?
The common raccoon (Procyon lotor) is not a protected species under Nevada state law. Nevada has a group of game species classified as “unprotected,” meaning no hunting license is required to take them — and raccoons fall into this category, alongside ground squirrels, coyotes, badgers, skunks, black-tailed jackrabbits, European starlings, and house sparrows.
That said, “unprotected” does not mean “no rules apply.” It is important to properly identify the problem wildlife, as many animals in Nevada are protected during all or part of the year. Raccoons are not among the protected species, but other animals you might encounter during a raccoon control effort — such as migratory birds or the pygmy rabbit — are. There are a few animals in Nevada that have either federal or state-protected status under the Endangered Species Act, including the pygmy rabbit, which has state “Species of Special Concern” status and may not be hunted, trapped, killed, or harassed.
One additional note worth knowing: it is always illegal to keep a raccoon as a pet in Nevada. Raccoons are also one of the species that may not be rehabilitated in Nevada. This shapes your options significantly — you cannot trap one and keep it, and you cannot hand it off to a wildlife rehabilitator.
Important Note: Nevada’s “unprotected” classification for raccoons means no hunting license is needed to shoot one, but a trapping license is still required if you plan to use any trap, snare, or similar device. These are two separate requirements under state law.
When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in Nevada?
Because raccoons are classified as unprotected wildlife in Nevada, you have broader legal latitude to kill them than you would with game animals or furbearers. Some species can be hunted year-round in Nevada without a hunting license, but a trapping license is required to trap them — and raccoons are explicitly included in this group, alongside coyotes, badgers, skunks, weasels, and ring-tailed cats.
In practical terms, this means you can shoot a raccoon on your property without a hunting license, provided you comply with local firearm discharge laws. Before you decide to shoot a nuisance animal, you should be aware that there are specific rules and regulations related to the discharge of firearms, and you should check with local authorities, including the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), before shooting a nuisance animal.
If you want to sell the pelt of any raccoon you take, the rules change. Selling the pelts of any species in Nevada requires the seller to possess a trapping license. You should also verify current season dates and bag limits with NDOW directly, as these can vary by zone and are updated annually in the Nevada Small Game Seasons & Regulations Book.
Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in Nevada
Nevada law permits several methods for taking raccoons, but not all approaches are equal under the rules. Firearms are the most straightforward option for property owners dealing with a nuisance animal, provided local ordinances allow discharge in your area. Urban and suburban residents in Clark County, Washoe County, or the city of Las Vegas should check with their county sheriff’s department before firing a weapon on their property.
Hunters and target shooters must abide by the regulations in the county in which they are hunting, and you should check with the county sheriff’s department for more information concerning restricted areas and night hunting laws.
Trapping with lethal devices is also legal, but requires a trapping license (covered in the next section). The use of steel leghold traps is subject to stringent regulations — these traps must include spacers to prevent injury to wildlife, ensuring that the trapping process is as humane as possible.
- Firearms: Legal without a hunting license; check local discharge ordinances first
- Lethal body-gripping traps (e.g., Conibear-type): Legal with a valid trapping license
- Steel leghold traps: Legal with a trapping license; must meet spacer requirements under Nevada regulations
- Poison: Not a registered or legal option for raccoon control in Nevada
One method that is specifically prohibited: hunting raccoons with dogs. It is unlawful to hunt, chase, or pursue any furbearing mammal with a dog except during the open season and under the authority of a valid trapping or hunting license. Since raccoons are classified as unprotected rather than furbearing in Nevada, using dogs to pursue them is off the table.
Pro Tip: If you are dealing with a raccoon causing property damage in a rural area, contact the USDA Wildlife Services office for Nevada. The USDA Wildlife Services will loan out traps and humanely euthanize trapped animals, and can be reached at 1-866-487-3297 or (775) 851-4848.
Trapping Raccoons in Nevada: Rules and Restrictions
Trapping is one of the most effective tools for dealing with a problem raccoon, but Nevada’s trapping rules are detailed and must be followed carefully. To legally trap wild mammals, trappers must obtain a valid trapping license, which allows the use of traps, snares, or similar devices — but it is crucial to follow specific rules to ensure ethical trapping.
Every trap you set on public land must be properly identified. Each trap, snare, or similar device used to take wild animals on public land must be either registered with the Department (at a $5 fee per trap) or stamped with the trapper’s name and address. Traps set on private land still need to comply with identification requirements and setback rules.
Distance restrictions also apply. It is unlawful for any person, company, or corporation to place or set any trap, snare, or similar device used for the purpose of trapping mammals within 200 feet of any public road or highway within the state.
You also need to check your traps regularly. Trapping visitation requirements vary based on what area and county the trap is in, so be sure you know the laws before placing traps. Failing to check traps on schedule is both an animal welfare issue and a legal one in Nevada.
If you are trapping on private land, always get written permission from the landowner if it is not your own property. It is unlawful to hunt, trap, or fish upon certain private property without permission. For more on how Nevada’s trapping framework compares to neighboring states, see how California handles raccoon trapping rules and what Texas law permits.
Can You Relocate a Raccoon Instead of Killing It in Nevada?
This is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — aspects of Nevada’s raccoon rules. Many people assume that live-trapping and releasing a raccoon somewhere else is a humane alternative to killing it. Under Nevada law, that is not an option.
While you can live-trap some nuisance wildlife, relocation is not allowed in Nevada. The trapped animals must be destroyed, since they may carry disease and relocation could spread the disease — and many of these diseases are transmissible to humans.
The state of Nevada is concerned only with the laws, and many states such as Nevada mandate the killing of a raccoon removed from a property for any reason. This applies whether you trap the raccoon yourself or hire a professional. The animal cannot legally be transported and released elsewhere in the state.
The disease concern driving this rule is real. Raccoons are known carriers of rabies, roundworms, and other diseases that can be fatal to humans and pets. Moving a potentially infected animal to a new location risks spreading pathogens into areas where they may not currently exist. Nevada’s no-relocation rule is a public health measure as much as a wildlife management one.
If you are dealing with a raccoon in your attic or on your property, exclusion — sealing entry points after removing the animal — is the approach that actually solves the problem long-term. To be successful at controlling nuisance wildlife, you will need an exclusion plan, because it does little good to remove raccoons from your attic if you do not discourage more raccoons from taking up residence.
Important Note: Even if a wildlife control company offers to “relocate” a raccoon, this is not legal under Nevada law. If a company is promising relocation as the outcome, ask them to clarify exactly what that means and whether it complies with NDOW regulations before you hire them.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Nevada
If you are not comfortable handling a raccoon problem yourself — or if local ordinances prohibit firearm discharge in your area — hiring a licensed wildlife control operator is the right move. No free agency will come to your house to take care of a raccoon conflict for you; you must hire a local licensed wildlife control operator, and these companies do charge for their services.
When choosing a company, make sure they hold a valid Nevada license. State-licensed operators are licensed by the Nevada Fish & Wildlife Commission and handle nearly all aspects of wildlife control, resolving conflicts between people and wildlife in a humane and professional manner. Operators working in Washoe County, Clark County, and Carson City are available through several established companies.
Avoid any pest control company that proposes using poisons for raccoon removal. Poisons are not registered for raccoon control in Nevada, and their use creates serious risks for non-target animals, pets, and children. A reputable wildlife control operator will use trapping or exclusion, not chemical methods.
- Ask whether the company holds a current Nevada trapping or wildlife control license
- Confirm they understand and comply with Nevada’s no-relocation rule for raccoons
- Request a written scope of work that includes exclusion repairs, not just trap placement
- Contact NDOW at (775) 688-1569 to verify a company’s credentials or get referrals
You can also compare how other states handle professional wildlife control by reading about raccoon removal rules in Ohio, Georgia’s approach, or Florida’s wildlife control framework.
Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in Nevada
Nevada state law sets the baseline for raccoon control, but county and municipal governments can — and do — impose stricter rules. Many additional laws are enacted on a county level, and the city of Las Vegas, Henderson County, and Clark County may have more restrictive animal laws than the state of Nevada.
The most common local restrictions that affect raccoon control include:
- Firearm discharge bans: Most incorporated cities and many suburban unincorporated areas prohibit discharging firearms within city limits or within a certain distance of structures. You cannot legally shoot a raccoon in your Las Vegas backyard even though state law technically permits it.
- Trap setback distances: Some counties impose additional setback requirements beyond the state’s 200-foot road rule.
- Noise ordinances: Night hunting or the use of calls near residential areas may conflict with local noise rules.
Some exotic animals are legal to own at the state level, but local counties may have stricter regulations — the same principle applies to wildlife control methods. Always check with your county sheriff’s department or local animal control office before taking action, particularly if you live in Clark, Washoe, or Douglas County.
For rural Nevada residents on agricultural land, the rules tend to be more permissive. The state’s firearm discharge restrictions are generally less restrictive in unincorporated areas, and you are more likely to be able to shoot or trap a raccoon without running into local ordinance conflicts. Still, confirming with your county before acting is always the right call.
If you want to see how this state-versus-local dynamic plays out elsewhere, the same tension exists in states like Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, where municipal rules frequently add complexity on top of state wildlife law. You can also review Nevada’s roadkill laws for related information on how the state handles wildlife found on public roads.
Bottom Line: What You Can and Cannot Do
Nevada gives property owners real tools to deal with problem raccoons, but the rules are specific. You can shoot a raccoon without a hunting license, but you need a trapping license to use any trap or snare. You cannot legally relocate a trapped raccoon — it must be euthanized. Local ordinances in cities like Las Vegas and Reno may further restrict what methods you can use on your property.
When in doubt, contact the Nevada Department of Wildlife before taking action. A quick call can save you from an unintentional violation and help you find the most effective, legal solution for your situation. For complex infestations — particularly raccoons inside a structure — a licensed wildlife control operator with experience in Nevada’s regulations is your best resource.
If you are researching raccoon laws in other states, see our guides on Virginia, Tennessee, Michigan, and North Carolina for state-by-state comparisons.