Can You Kill Raccoons in Washington? What State Law Actually Allows
May 23, 2026
Raccoons are one of the most common wildlife conflicts Washington property owners face. They tear up lawns, raid chicken coops, invade attics, and knock over garbage cans with startling regularity. When the damage keeps piling up, it’s natural to ask whether lethal control is even on the table.
The short answer is yes — but the details matter enormously. Washington has a layered set of rules that govern when, how, and by whom raccoons can be killed. Getting those details wrong can mean fines, loss of hunting privileges, or even criminal charges. This guide walks you through everything you need to know before taking action.
Are Raccoons Protected in Washington?
Raccoons in Washington occupy an unusual legal category that shapes every rule discussed in this article. The raccoon is classified as both a furbearer and a game animal, and a hunting or trapping license is required to hunt or trap raccoons during an open season. That dual classification means raccoons are actively managed wildlife — not unprotected pests you can remove without any oversight.
Because raccoons are regulated game, you cannot simply kill one on a whim. Killing raccoons in Washington State is legal only under specific hunting and nuisance control laws with proper permits. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) oversees all raccoon-related activity in the state, from hunting seasons to nuisance removal protocols.
Key Insight: Raccoons are not federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, but Washington’s own classification as a game and furbearer animal means state law governs all removal activity. Always verify current rules with your WDFW Regional Office before acting, as regulations can change.
It’s also worth understanding the disease angle. Raccoons carry and disperse Raccoon Roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis). While this roundworm lives in the raccoon’s intestinal tract without ill effects to the raccoon, when eggs are ingested by other creatures — including humans — the eggs hatch in the intestinal tract and infect the new host, where the larvae can migrate throughout the body and access the central nervous system, usually resulting in death. This public health reality is part of why Washington takes raccoon management seriously. You can learn more about raccoon behavior and biology to better understand what you’re dealing with before deciding on a course of action.
When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in Washington?
There are two primary legal pathways to killing a raccoon in Washington: hunting during an open season, and nuisance/damage control outside of hunting season. Each comes with its own set of conditions.
During Hunting Season
Washington allows raccoon hunting during certain seasons and under specific regulations. You can also remove raccoons if they pose a nuisance, but you must follow local rules. Raccoon hunting season usually runs from late summer to early winter, but exact dates vary yearly and by region. Always check the current WDFW hunting seasons and regulations page for the most up-to-date season dates before heading out.
Nuisance and Damage Control
Outside of hunting season, property owners have a separate avenue. A property owner or the owner’s immediate family, employee, or tenant may kill or trap a raccoon on that property if it is damaging crops or domestic animals. In such cases, no permit is necessary for the use of live (cage) traps. Note the specificity here: the exemption applies to crop damage or harm to domestic animals, not general nuisance behavior like raiding a trash can.
Important Note: Washington law treats lethal control as a last resort. Lethal control is a last resort and can never be justified without first applying nonlethal control techniques. Attempting to skip straight to lethal removal without documenting prior non-lethal efforts can expose you to legal liability.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) allows property owners to take action against raccoons causing damage, especially when raccoons threaten homes, gardens, or public health. However, legality hinges on reason and method, not just intent. If you’re dealing with raccoons threatening your chickens or other livestock, explore natural raccoon predators and deterrents as a first line of defense, and consider plants that repel raccoons as a non-lethal preventive measure.
Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in Washington
Washington does not give you a free hand to choose any method you like. Both the tools and the techniques used to kill raccoons are tightly regulated.
Shooting
While shooting can be effective in eliminating a single raccoon, it is generally limited to rural situations. Shooting is considered too hazardous in more populated areas, even if legal. If you’re in a rural setting with a valid hunting license during open season, a firearm is a permitted option. Depending on the species and size of the animal, a .22 caliber rifle or pistol, or a minimum of .22 caliber air/CO2 rifle should be used in accordance with local laws and regulations.
There are also important night-hunting restrictions to be aware of. It is unlawful to hunt bobcat and raccoon at night during modern firearm deer or elk general seasons that occur in October and November in eastern and western Washington.
Hunting with Dogs
Dogs may be used to hunt raccoon, except it is unlawful to hunt raccoons with dogs during modern firearm deer or elk general seasons that occur in October and November in eastern and western Washington. Using dogs is a traditional and permitted method during the open season, with that one key seasonal restriction.
Humane Euthanasia for Trapped Animals
If you trap a raccoon and need to kill it, the method must comply with state standards. Trapped nuisance wildlife must be killed humanely. When killing of live-captured nuisance wildlife is necessary, it must be done in a manner consistent with the euthanasia and depopulation guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Under these guidelines, drowning, live burial, freezing, or injecting live animals with unapproved chemicals are considered inhumane and unacceptable.
Widely accepted methods for euthanasia set by the American Veterinary Medical Association include carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (CO2) supplied to a chamber from a compressed gas cylinder for small and medium-sized animals, and a shot to the head from a firearm for small and medium-sized animals — subject to local firearm ordinances.
Common Mistake: Using illegal traps, poisons, or firearms prohibited by state or local laws is one of the most frequent errors people make when trying to handle raccoon problems. The use of sodium fluoroacetate, or compound 1080, is illegal in Washington and not permitted under any certificate or license (RCW 77.15.196). Poison of any kind is off the table.
Washington has also banned wildlife killing contests. A state rule prohibits contests for animals like coyotes, bobcats, crows, foxes, and raccoons, which is significant as these animals typically have few protections under state laws and are the most common victims at such contests.
Trapping Raccoons in Washington: Rules and Restrictions
Trapping is the most common method used for nuisance raccoon control in Washington, but the rules around which traps are legal are specific and sometimes surprising.
Cage Traps: The Default Option
Body-gripping traps are illegal in Washington, but certain of these traps may be authorized through the issuance of a Special Trapping Permit (STP). Cage and box traps, suitcase-type live beaver traps, and common rat and mouse traps are not classified as body-gripping traps and do not require a STP. For most property owners, a standard cage trap is the only tool you can legally use without additional permitting.
It is legal for you to use a cage trap on your own property without a permit, but the animal will have to be euthanized. That last part is critical — trapping and releasing on-site or elsewhere is not a free pass.
Special Trapping Permits (STP)
If cage traps aren’t sufficient for your situation, you may apply for a Special Trapping Permit. Procedures must be followed to comply with RCW 77.15.194 and WAC 220-417-040. A person must submit a written application to WDFW to request the use of a Conibear-type trap submerged in water, a padded foothold trap, or a non-strangling foot snare — these are the only three body-gripping traps that may be authorized under this permit.
The applicant must establish that there exists on a property an animal problem that has not been and cannot be reasonably abated by the use of non-lethal control tools, including but not limited to guard animals, electric fencing, or box and cage traps, or that such non-lethal means cannot be reasonably applied in a particular situation.
| Trap Type | Permit Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cage / box trap | No | Most common option for property owners; animal must be euthanized |
| Padded foothold trap | Yes (STP) | Must be checked every 24 hours; STP valid for 30 days |
| Conibear-type trap (submerged) | Yes (STP) | Must be set underwater; not for recreational use |
| Non-strangling foot snare | Yes (STP) | Only authorized type of snare under STP |
| Dog-proof raccoon traps | Illegal | Not authorized even with STP |
| Neck snares | Illegal | Not authorized even with STP |
Only three types of body-gripping traps may be authorized with a STP: a Conibear-type trap submerged in water, a padded leg-hold trap, or a non-strangling foot snare. No other trap that grips an animal’s body is legal, even with a STP, and this includes traps such as dog-proof raccoon traps, mole traps, or neck snares.
A permitted body-gripping trap must be checked at least every 24 hours and may not be used to capture wildlife for recreational or commercial purposes. This permit is only valid for 30 days and requires a report within 10 days of the permit expiration, regardless of trapping success.
For fur trappers operating during the open season, fur trappers in this state are limited to the use of cage traps and suitcase-type beaver traps. The broader array of trap types is only available through the permit system for damage control purposes.
Can You Relocate a Raccoon Instead of Killing It in Washington?
This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Washington raccoon law — and one of the most important to get right. Many people assume that live-trapping and releasing a raccoon somewhere else is a humane, legal alternative to killing it. In Washington, that assumption is largely wrong.
It is unlawful to release wildlife anywhere within the state, other than on the property where it was legally trapped, without a permit to do so (RCW 77.15.250). That means you cannot drive a trapped raccoon to a park, a forest, or a neighbor’s property and release it — doing so is a violation of state law.
In the State of Washington, it is unlawful to possess or transport live wildlife or wild birds without a permit (WAC 220-450-030). This includes Eastern gray squirrels, Eastern cottontail rabbits, raccoons, and opossums. They are considered wildlife because they occur in Washington in a wild state — which includes neighborhood parks and backyards.
Important Note: While regulations allow the live capture of all nuisance animals, operators are mandated by the State of Washington to euthanize certain animals for biological reasons — those animals include raccoons, opossums, eastern gray squirrels, fox, nutria, skunks, and coyotes. While some operators use language like “non-lethal control methods” in reference to these animals, the WDFW actually requires that they be euthanized.
Beyond the legal issue, wildlife experts also caution that relocation rarely works as intended. Raccoons posing a threat to human and pet safety should not be relocated. In many cases, moving raccoons will not solve the original problem because other raccoons will replace them and cause similar conflicts. Hence, it is more effective to make the site less attractive to raccoons than it is to routinely trap them.
Raccoons typically try to return to their original territories, often getting hit by a car or killed by a predator in the process. If they remain in the new area, they may get into fights — oftentimes to the death — with resident raccoons for limited food, shelter, or nesting sites. Raccoons may also transmit diseases to rural populations that they have picked up from urban pets. Understanding what animals eat raccoons and the pressures they face in new territories helps explain why relocation is so hard on the animals themselves.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Washington
If the rules feel complex or you’re simply not comfortable handling the situation yourself, hiring a professional is often the most practical and legally sound option. In Washington, these professionals are called Wildlife Control Operators (WCOs).
Licensed specialists in Washington are called Wildlife Control Operators. They’re certified for trapping small game and unclassified wildlife, like raccoons, skunks, and opossums. All individuals trained and certified by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCOs) are regulated by the state. These regulations cover which animals may be controlled, methods and equipment used to manage them, and disposition of captured animals.
A WCO may assist a landowner, with their permission, by addressing damage to public or private property caused by raccoon, fox, bobcat, beaver, muskrat, mink, river otter, weasel, hare, opossum, cottontail rabbits, predatory birds, and unclassified wildlife including coyotes, nutria, and eastern gray squirrels.
One important thing to understand about hiring a WCO: even a professional cannot simply relocate a trapped raccoon. A WCO may not relocate any animal from the property where it was captured to a different property unless by rule of the WDFW Commission or through a permit issued by WDFW.
After euthanasia, disposal is also regulated. Unless otherwise specified in permits issued by WDFW, humanely dispatched wildlife must be disposed of within twenty-four hours, or as soon as feasible, in a manner so as not to become a public or common problem or cause pollution of surface or groundwater. The person responsible for disposal must dispose of it by burial, landfilling, incineration, composting, rendering, or another approved method.
Pro Tip: WDFW and USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services do not provide free trapping services. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services are agencies that deal with problem wildlife, but they do not provide free trapping services. USDA-APHIS-WS may provide the service for a fee. Budget accordingly when planning professional removal.
You can contact the WDFW Wildlife Customer Service desk in Olympia at (360) 902-2515 or email specialtrapping@dfw.wa.gov for referrals to certified WCOs in your area. If you’re curious how Washington’s approach compares to neighboring states, the roadkill laws in Washington page covers related wildlife possession rules worth knowing.
Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in Washington
State law sets the floor for raccoon control in Washington, but it does not set the ceiling. Local governments can — and often do — impose additional restrictions that are stricter than what WDFW allows at the state level.
Some cities or counties may require permits or notification before lethal control of raccoons. This is particularly relevant in urban and suburban settings, where local animal control agencies may have their own rules about discharging firearms, setting traps on residential properties, or handling wildlife in public spaces.
Trapping also may not be legal in some urban areas; check with local authorities. This is not a minor caveat — in densely populated areas like Seattle, Bellevue, or Tacoma, municipal codes can effectively prohibit methods that are otherwise legal under state law.
Common local restrictions to investigate before taking action include:
- Firearm discharge ordinances that prohibit shooting within city or town limits
- Municipal codes requiring notification to animal control before trapping
- HOA rules that may restrict or prohibit trapping on common or private property
- County-specific rules about trap placement near waterways, schools, or public parks
- Local noise ordinances that could affect the use of certain deterrents
Unlawful trapping in Washington state is a gross misdemeanor. That classification means violations carry real legal consequences — not just a warning. Penalties include fines, license loss, and possible criminal charges depending on the violation severity.
Before taking any action, contact your city or county animal control office, your local WDFW Regional Office, and — if you live in an HOA — your homeowners’ association. The few minutes it takes to make those calls can save you from significant legal trouble. Washington’s rules also interact with broader wildlife laws in ways that aren’t always obvious; reviewing the roadkill and wildlife possession laws in neighboring states can give useful context if you’re near a state border.
Raccoon conflicts are frustrating, but Washington’s regulatory framework exists for practical reasons — disease control, ecological balance, and humane treatment of wildlife. Working within that framework, rather than around it, is both the legal and the most effective long-term approach. If you’ve exhausted non-lethal options like habitat modification and deterrents, the combination of a cage trap, proper euthanasia, and — when needed — a licensed WCO gives you a fully legal path to resolving the problem.