Oregon Lets You Kill Damaging Squirrels on Your Land, but Protected Species and Relocation Rules Still Apply to You
November 14, 2026
Can you kill squirrels in Oregon? On your own property, usually yes, but only if the squirrel is causing damage and you stay inside rules that protect some species and restrict where you can release a live animal. Oregon treats tree squirrels differently depending on the species, the land, and the method you use.
This article covers what the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the Oregon Administrative Rules say about protection status, hunting seasons, licenses, property damage, city limits, methods, trapping, relocation, poisoning, and hiring a professional. Read the species section first, because a mistake there is the most common way a homeowner ends up on the wrong side of the law.
Can You Kill Squirrels in Oregon?
Yes, in two situations. You can hunt certain squirrels with a license during open seasons, and you can control squirrels that are damaging land you own or occupy. Which rule applies depends on the species and what the animal is doing.
ODFW’s Living with Wildlife guidance states that tree squirrels are classified as Predatory Animals under ORS 610.002 and may be controlled (killed) by landowners or land managers if the animals are causing damage. The same ODFW document adds that a permit is not needed from ODFW to kill squirrels unless the landowner wishes to transport a squirrel to another location.
That does not cover every squirrel you might see. Some Oregon squirrels are protected, and the method you pick must also be legal. The sections below break that down.
Pro Tip: Identify the squirrel before you act. A Douglas squirrel, northern flying squirrel, or American red squirrel is protected, and mistaking one for a pest species is not a defense.
Are Squirrels Protected in Oregon?
Some are and some are not. Oregon sorts its squirrels into game mammals, protected nongame wildlife, predatory animals, and prohibited non-native species.
According to ODFW, the American red squirrel and the northern flying squirrel are classified as Nongame Protected, and the Douglas squirrel is also classified as Nongame Protected Wildlife. These species cannot be hunted, and the damage-control exception does not make them fair game.
The western gray squirrel is a game mammal and a State Sensitive Species. The ODFW tree squirrel guidance explains that it is classified as a State Sensitive Species (Vulnerable), which is why hunting restrictions are in place.
Non-native squirrels sit at the other end. ODFW’s wildlife control operator page says prohibited species listed in OAR 635-056-0050, such as eastern gray squirrels and eastern fox squirrels, must be euthanized and cannot be released onsite.
Which Squirrel Species Can You Kill in Oregon?
The table below summarizes how Oregon law treats the squirrels you are most likely to encounter. It reflects ODFW and Oregon Administrative Rules sources cited in this article.
| Squirrel | Oregon Status | Can You Kill It? |
|---|---|---|
| Western gray squirrel | Game mammal; State Sensitive Species | Yes, during the hunting season with a license, or when causing damage on private property |
| Eastern gray squirrel | Prohibited non-native species | Yes on private property; must be euthanized, not released |
| Eastern fox squirrel | Prohibited non-native species | Yes on private property; must be euthanized, not released |
| California ground squirrel | Unprotected mammal | Yes, with a hunting license; year-round, no bag limit |
| Belding’s ground squirrel | Unprotected mammal | Yes, with a hunting license; year-round, no bag limit |
| Douglas squirrel | Nongame protected wildlife | No |
| American red squirrel | Nongame protected wildlife | No |
| Northern flying squirrel | Nongame protected wildlife | No |
The western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus) is Oregon’s only native tree squirrel that may be hunted. ODFW describes it as Oregon’s smallest “big game” mammal, though it needs no tag.
Ground squirrels are handled differently. ODFW lists the California ground squirrel and Belding’s ground squirrel among commonly hunted unprotected mammals, and says that for these animals hunting is allowed year-round and there are no bag limits.
Squirrel Hunting Season and Limits in Oregon 2026-27
Only the western gray squirrel has a set season. ODFW says that like other big game mammals, there are specific seasons, bag limits and open areas for squirrel hunting.
A third-party hunting synopsis for 2026-2027 lists the western gray squirrel daily limit as 3 or 5, and the possession limit as 6 or 15, depending on the open area. That source is a secondary summary, so confirm exact dates and unit boundaries in the current ODFW Oregon Big Game Regulations on ODFW’s small game hunting page before you head out.
Unprotected ground squirrels have no season at all. Belding’s ground squirrels are typically hunted in eastern Oregon from February to July, and ODFW notes that most of that hunting happens on pastures and alfalfa fields, so you need landowner permission.
Do You Need a License to Kill Squirrels in Oregon?
For hunting, yes. ODFW states that you don’t need a special tag to hunt western gray squirrel, just a regular hunting license. The same license requirement applies to unprotected mammals: a hunting license is required and all hunting rules apply.
For damage control on land you own or occupy, the rule is different. Oregon’s wildlife control operator rules state that a WCO permit is not required for the onsite capture and euthanasia of species defined as predatory animals. In practice, a landowner dealing with a damaging squirrel on their own property does not need a hunting license or an ODFW permit to do so.
A landowner’s free license may apply if you are taking furbearers, but squirrels are not furbearers. The furbearer list in the rules covers animals such as beaver, bobcat, fisher, marten, mink, muskrat, otter, raccoon, red fox, and gray fox.
Can You Kill Squirrels Damaging Your Property in Oregon?
Yes, and this is the strongest legal footing you have. ORS 610.105 lets a person who owns or occupies infested land act without waiting for permission. The statute says that person may proceed immediately and continue in good faith to control them by poisoning, trapping or other appropriate and effective means.
The rules also name the species. Under Oregon’s administrative rules, western gray squirrels causing damage on private property are defined as predatory animals under ORS 610.002.
The word that matters is damage. You are on solid ground when a squirrel is chewing wiring, nesting in an attic, or eating crops. You are not covered if you kill a protected species that happens to be in your yard without causing a problem.
Important Note: The damage-control authority applies to land you own, lease, or occupy, or to your agent. It does not let you kill squirrels on a neighbor’s land or on public land.
Can You Kill Squirrels in Your Yard or City in Oregon?
State law allows it on your own property, including in town. The ODFW wildlife control operator program covers urban work too, describing permitted operators as people who control wildlife in incorporated city limits and associated urban development areas.
State law is only one layer. Cities and counties in Oregon commonly restrict discharging firearms, air guns, or bows inside city limits, and those local rules can be stricter than anything ODFW requires. Check your city code or call the local police non-emergency line before you fire anything in a residential area.
Reporting from Columbia Insight on Portland’s squirrels reached the same state-level conclusion: on private land, squirrels are managed as predatory species and can be killed by landowners without license or permitting requirements. That is accurate for the state rules but says nothing about local weapons ordinances.
What Methods Are Legal for Killing Squirrels in Oregon?
The method rules depend on whether you are hunting or controlling damage. Hunting western gray squirrels has specific weapon rules, while damage control is governed by the “appropriate and effective means” standard in ORS 610.105.
For hunting, ODFW lists these weapons for western gray squirrel:
- Any rifle, handgun, or shotgun that is not fully automatic
- A long, recurve or compound bow, using any type of arrow or small game point or broadhead
- A non-matchlock muzzleloader, per ODFW’s small game page
- Dogs, which are allowed for western gray squirrel even though they are barred for other game mammals, per the Oregon Administrative Rules
Some methods are off limits. ODFW says that western gray squirrels may not be hunted with crossbows or any other method not listed, and may not be hunted with full-metal jacket bullets. Tracer ammunition is also banned for western gray squirrel hunting.
There is one exemption worth knowing. A .22 rimfire is generally illegal for hunting game mammals, but ODFW makes an exception: .22 caliber rimfire is unlawful for game mammals except for western gray squirrel.
Can You Trap Squirrels in Oregon?
Yes. ODFW says that following these rules, you may trap a squirrel on your property yourself or hire an ODFW-permitted Wildlife Control Operator.
Trap checks are mandatory. Under the rules for traps set for predatory animals, killing traps and snares must be checked at least once every 14 days, and restraining traps and snares at least once every 48 hours. That language comes from an ODFW draft rule document, so confirm the current wording in OAR Chapter 635, Division 50 before relying on those intervals.
If you set a live trap, plan for what happens next before you bait it. Prohibited non-native squirrels must be euthanized, and native squirrels cannot be moved freely, as the next section explains.
Pro Tip: Check a live trap early each morning. A trapped squirrel left in sun or rain suffers quickly, and a protected species caught by accident has to be released unharmed right where you caught it.
Can You Relocate Squirrels in Oregon?
Not freely. ODFW is direct about it: it is unlawful to release any squirrel anywhere other than on your property without a permit from ODFW.
The agency also discourages the practice on practical grounds. ODFW says trapping and relocating squirrels is not recommended and generally a permit from ODFW is required, and that relocated animals have a low survival rate and generally become “nuisance wildlife” to someone else.
Non-native squirrels have a harder rule. The eastern gray squirrel and eastern fox squirrel cannot be relocated within the state unless on the same property, and they cannot be rehabilitated and must be humanely euthanized. It is also illegal to bring either species into Oregon.
If you want to move a native squirrel off your property, contact your local ODFW office first and get written approval.
Is Poisoning Squirrels Legal in Oregon?
The statute mentions it, but treat it with extreme caution. ORS 610.105 lists poisoning among the means a landowner may use against infesting predatory animals, along with trapping and other effective means.
That statutory language does not override pesticide law. Rodenticides are regulated products, and using one against squirrels must follow the product label, which is a legal requirement under federal and Oregon pesticide rules. Poison also kills non-target animals, including pets, hawks, and owls that eat a poisoned squirrel.
For most homeowners, trapping or professional removal is a safer and more defensible choice. If you are dealing with ground squirrels on farm or ranch land, ask the Oregon Department of Agriculture or your county extension office about approved products before you buy anything.
Who Can Remove Squirrels for You in Oregon?
Hire an ODFW-permitted Wildlife Control Operator. ODFW explains that these are individuals or business owners charging a fee to control furbearers, unprotected mammals, and western gray squirrels causing damage, creating a public nuisance, or posing a public health or safety concern in cities and urban development areas. They are permitted by ODFW and governed by a set of rules.
A WCO must comply with all state wildlife laws and regulations, which is the main reason to hire a permitted one rather than an unlicensed handyman. Ask for the operator’s permit number and confirm it with ODFW.
Before you hire anyone, ask what they will do with the animal, how they handle protected species caught by mistake, and whether they will seal the entry points. Removal without exclusion work usually means the squirrels are back within weeks.
If you are comparing Oregon’s rules with other states, the California raccoon laws and Washington roadkill laws pages cover neighboring wildlife rules, and the Idaho roadkill laws and Nevada roadkill laws guides cover the rest of the region.