Raccoons are a fixture of Oregon life, raiding garbage cans in Portland neighborhoods, denning under rural farmhouses, and causing property damage from the coast to the Cascades. When a raccoon becomes a serious problem, your first question is usually a practical one: can you kill it? The answer in Oregon is yes — but only under specific legal conditions, and the rules are detailed enough that skipping a step can turn a pest-control decision into a wildlife violation.
Oregon treats raccoons as furbearing mammals under state law, which means they receive a level of legal protection that goes well beyond what most homeowners expect. This guide walks through exactly what the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) allows, what licenses or permits you need, and where the rules get complicated.
Are Raccoons Protected in Oregon?
Yes. In Oregon, a furbearer is defined as an animal whose fur has commercial value, and raccoons fall into this category alongside beaver, bobcat, fisher, marten, mink, muskrat, river otter, and red and gray fox. That classification matters because it determines which rules apply to how you can take, trap, or kill them.
Raccoons are found throughout Oregon, excluding high mountains and desert regions. They have adapted well to residential life because of their flexible diet and nocturnal nature, feeding on insects, plants, small animals, and unnatural foods like pet food and trash when given the chance.
Raccoons can host various zoonotic diseases and parasites that can be harmful to people or pets, including rabies, distemper, and roundworm. That public health dimension is one reason Oregon law gives property owners some meaningful options — but it also explains why those options come with conditions designed to prevent disease spread.
Important Note: Oregon wildlife law is administered by ODFW. Rules can change between furbearer seasons, so always verify current requirements directly with your local ODFW district office before taking any action against raccoons on your property.
When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in Oregon?
Oregon law does not give you blanket permission to kill a raccoon simply because it is a nuisance. The legal basis for lethal action falls into a few distinct categories, each with its own requirements.
During an open furbearer hunting season. Furtakers need either a Furtaker’s License or a Hunting License for Furbearers. Licenses are available for sale starting June 1. A Furtaker’s License allows the holder to trap, hunt, and pursue, while a Hunting License for Furbearers allows the holder only to hunt and pursue.
As a landowner dealing with damage. Landowners must obtain either a furtaker’s license, a hunting license for furbearers, or a free license to take furbearers on land they own and on which they reside. To receive the free license, the landowner must obtain from the Salem ODFW Headquarters office a receipt of registration for the location of such land prior to hunting or trapping furbearing mammals on that land.
With an ODFW nuisance permit. Raccoons may be trapped with a permit from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, but they must be released on the same property or humanely euthanized. This is the route most homeowners without a furtaker’s license will use.
Humane killing of injured animals. Oregon law does not prohibit any person from killing crippled or helpless wildlife when the killing is done for a humane purpose. Any person doing so must immediately report the killing to a person authorized to enforce wildlife laws and dispose of the wildlife as the State Fish and Wildlife Commission directs.
Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in Oregon
Oregon places clear limits on how you can kill a raccoon, even when you are legally authorized to do so. Knowing which methods are permitted — and which are explicitly banned — keeps you on the right side of the law.
Firearms. Shooting is a legal method during open furbearer hunting seasons with the proper license. Contrary to deer hunting, it is advisable to stay away from shotguns and higher calibers when targeting raccoons; small-caliber rifles are a better option. You cannot shoot from or across a public road or road right-of-way under any circumstances.
Artificial lighting. The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may authorize hunting with the aid of an artificial light for the purpose of taking raccoon, opossum, or bobcat, or to alleviate damage by wildlife to other resources. Artificial lights for raccoons, bobcats, and opossums are allowed, but they must not be attached to or cast from a motor vehicle.
Dogs. Dogs may be used to hunt or chase raccoons and other vulnerable mammals. Treeing Walker Coonhounds are a popular choice among Oregon coon hunters for their ability to track and tree raccoons until the hunter arrives.
Poison and cyanide devices. These are prohibited. No person shall place any toxic substance where it is accessible to wildlife unless the substance and method of application is approved by state governmental agencies. A person may not use an M44 cyanide device, cyanide trap, cyanide gun, or similar device designed to propel sodium cyanide into an animal.
Suppressors. It is legal to hunt with suppressors in Oregon. There are no wildlife regulations that restrict their use; however, you need all necessary permits required to possess and use a suppressor.
Pro Tip: If you harvest a raccoon during furbearer season, ODFW requires you to complete and submit a Furtaker Harvest Report form. Missing this deadline can block you from purchasing a license the following season.
Trapping Raccoons in Oregon: Rules and Restrictions
Trapping is the method most Oregon residents reach for when dealing with a problem raccoon, but it comes with its own set of rules that differ somewhat from hunting regulations.
A private property owner who chooses to trap raccoons and lawfully remove an animal from their property needs an ODFW permit, but not a Wildlife Control Operator (WCO) permit. Such permits are free of charge and can be obtained by contacting the nearest ODFW office.
Trapper education requirements also apply in many cases. All trappers born after June 30, 1968, and all first-time Oregon trappers are required to complete an approved trapper education course. The course is not required of persons trapping on land owned or leased by that person, their immediate family, or a person’s agent controlling damage to livestock or agricultural crops on that property.
New for 2026, the Trapper Education course for Oregon is now available online. This makes it easier for first-time trappers to meet the requirement before heading out.
Trap jaw-spread rules also apply. Any killing trap established on land without ODFW permission and with a jaw spread of seven and a half inches (7.5″) or more is prohibited. Additionally, it is forbidden to disrupt or remove any licensed trapper’s set traps or snares while they are still set, except for those authorized to enforce wildlife regulations.
| Situation | License/Permit Required | Outcome Options |
|---|---|---|
| Furbearer hunting season | Furtaker’s License or Hunting License for Furbearers | Lethal take permitted |
| Landowner on own property | Furtaker’s License, Furbearer Hunting License, or free ODFW license | Lethal take permitted |
| Nuisance trapping (any property owner) | Free ODFW nuisance permit | Release on-site or euthanize only |
| Hiring a WCO | WCO handles permits | Euthanasia or exclusion |
Can You Relocate a Raccoon Instead of Killing It in Oregon?
This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Oregon raccoon law. Many people assume that catching a raccoon in a live trap and driving it to a park or forest is a humane, legal alternative to killing it. In Oregon, that assumption is wrong.
Relocation of raccoons is illegal in Oregon. Research has shown that relocated animals can transmit diseases to new areas and often have very low survival rates. Raccoons may be trapped with a permit from ODFW, but they must be released on the same property or humanely euthanized.
The disease-transmission concern is not trivial. If you are attempting to trap raccoons with a permit, it is important to be ready with a plan for all captured animals, including unintended bycatch. Catching a non-target animal — a neighbor’s cat, a skunk, or a possum — is common with live traps, and you need to know how to handle that situation legally before you set the trap.
If you are hoping the raccoon will simply move on its own, ODFW’s practical advice is consistent: raccoons that are fed by people often lose their fear of humans and may become aggressive, so you should not attempt to feed or touch a raccoon. Removing food attractants — securing garbage cans, bringing in pet food at night, and clearing fallen fruit — is the most reliable way to encourage raccoons to move on without any trapping at all.
For more on how neighboring states handle this same question, see how Washington’s raccoon laws compare to Oregon’s approach, or check out the rules in California, which has similarly strict relocation restrictions.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Oregon
If you do not want to navigate the permitting process yourself, Oregon’s Wildlife Control Operator (WCO) program exists specifically for situations like yours.
Oregon’s permitted wildlife control operators are an individual, business owner, or the business owner’s designee charging a fee to control furbearers, unprotected mammals (excluding moles), and western gray squirrels causing damage, creating a public nuisance, or posing a public health or safety concern in incorporated city limits and associated urban development areas.
Working with a permitted Wildlife Control Operator is one of ODFW’s recommended options for trapping raccoons on your property. Wildlife Control Operators are private individuals who professionally trap animals in urban areas where conflict is occurring.
WCOs are permitted and governed by ODFW rules. A fee of $25 is charged each time a person takes the WCO test, and a minimum test score of 80 percent is required to pass. This ensures that anyone operating professionally has demonstrated knowledge of both humane handling techniques and state regulations.
WCOs are authorized to humanely euthanize wildlife using methods defined by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines for Euthanasia of Animals. This is a meaningful distinction from what most property owners can do on their own — licensed operators have access to euthanasia methods that are not available to the general public.
ODFW recommends that private property owners unfamiliar with trapping wildlife seek the help and advice of professional WCOs before attempting to trap or remove wildlife, in order to best protect the welfare of the animal and the health and safety of people.
You can find a list of ODFW-permitted wildlife control operators through the ODFW Wildlife Control Operators page. Operators are organized by region, making it straightforward to find someone licensed to work in your county.
Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in Oregon
Oregon’s state-level furbearer rules set the floor, but local governments can — and sometimes do — add restrictions on top of them. If you live inside city limits, your municipality may have ordinances that further limit how and where you can discharge a firearm, set traps, or handle wildlife.
Oregon Revised Statutes include provisions on hunting or trapping wildlife in certain governmental districts that are restricted. Cities like Portland, Eugene, and Salem have their own codes governing discharge of firearms within city limits, which effectively rules out shooting as a raccoon-control method for most urban residents even if state law would otherwise permit it.
County-level rules can also create additional layers. Some Oregon counties restrict trapping near public trails, parks, or waterways beyond the baseline state requirements. Before setting any trap or taking any lethal action, contact your city or county government to confirm whether local ordinances apply to your situation.
- Check with your city’s code enforcement office for firearm discharge rules within city limits
- Confirm with your county whether additional trapping restrictions apply near public lands or waterways
- Ask your local ODFW district office whether any special management zones in your area affect raccoon take
- If you live near a tribal reservation or federal land, separate federal and tribal rules may apply
It is also worth knowing that under Oregon law, the only people who can keep raccoon roadkill are licensed furtakers, and only for animals classified as furbearers. If you find a dead raccoon on or near a road, you cannot simply take it home — doing so without the proper license is a violation. For more on how Oregon handles roadkill, see the Oregon roadkill laws guide.
If you are researching raccoon rules in other states, the laws vary considerably. You can compare Oregon’s framework with the rules in Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and Michigan to see how your options would differ across state lines.
Key Takeaway: In Oregon, you can legally kill a raccoon — but you need the right license or permit first, relocation is not a legal option, and local ordinances may restrict your methods further. When in doubt, contact your nearest ODFW district office or hire a licensed Wildlife Control Operator who already knows the rules.
Oregon’s raccoon regulations reflect a broader philosophy: wildlife belongs to the state, and even nuisance animals are managed under a framework designed to balance property protection with disease control and ecological responsibility. Working within that framework — rather than around it — keeps you legal and typically produces better long-term results than ad-hoc solutions that may not hold up over time.