Nuisance Wildlife Laws in Indiana: What Property Owners Are Legally Allowed to Do

A raccoon tearing through your trash, a skunk denning under your deck, or a woodchuck tunneling through your garden — these are real problems that Indiana property owners deal with every season. But before you set a trap or call a neighbor to help, you need to know exactly where state law draws the line.

Indiana’s nuisance wildlife rules are more nuanced than most homeowners expect. Some animals can be removed without any permit at all, others require paperwork, and a handful are protected so strictly that the wrong move can result in federal charges. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about nuisance wildlife laws in Indiana so you can act confidently and stay on the right side of the law.

What Counts as Nuisance Wildlife in Indiana

Indiana does not publish a single statutory list of “nuisance species,” but the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) defines the concept through the conditions that justify action. A resident landowner or tenant can legally capture wild animals without a permit on property they own or rent if the animal is causing or threatening to cause damage to property, or posing a health or safety threat to people or domestic animals. That two-part standard — property damage or health and safety threat — is the practical definition of a nuisance animal in Indiana.

In everyday terms, wildlife commonly treated as nuisances in Indiana includes raccoons raiding garbage or entering attics, opossums under structures, skunks denning near homes, groundhogs undermining foundations or gardens, fox and gray squirrels in walls or attics, coyotes threatening livestock or pets, and Canada geese fouling lawns and ponds. Groundhogs (woodchucks), moles, voles, mice, and chipmunks are not protected by the DNR and can be taken at any time and with any method without a permit.

Key Insight: The nuisance designation is tied to the animal’s behavior on your property, not the species itself. A raccoon living peacefully in a nearby woodlot is not a nuisance — one destroying your attic insulation is.

Domestic cats and dogs fall outside the DNR’s jurisdiction entirely. Domestic cats and dogs are not regulated by the DNR; you should contact your county animal control authority for information. For questions about a neighbor’s cat on your property or Indiana leash laws, those issues are handled at the local level.

Your Rights as a Property Owner in Indiana

Indiana gives property owners meaningful authority to handle nuisance wildlife on land they own or rent — but that authority comes with clear boundaries. A resident landowner or tenant can legally capture certain wild animals without a permit on property they own or rent if the animal is causing or threatening to cause damage to property, or posing a health or safety threat to people or domestic animals. The landowner or tenant can also designate another person to take the animal if the landowner provides written permission (which must be on the person while taking the animal) and no compensation of any kind is given to the person taking the animal.

That last point matters. An individual is not allowed to be compensated for any animal removal unless they obtain a nuisance wildlife control permit, which is required by law in the state of Indiana. If you ask a friend to help for free with written permission in hand, that is legal. If you pay anyone — even informally — they need a permit.

Important Note: Your rights as a landowner apply only to the property you own or rent. A hunting or trapping license or nuisance wild animal control permit is required to take wild animals on land that you do not own or rent.

Property owners in Indiana are expected to take reasonable steps to prevent wildlife conflicts on their premises, including ensuring their property does not attract wildlife through unsecured garbage cans or bird feeders, and regularly inspecting for potential entry points that wildlife could use to access buildings or structures. Proactive prevention is both good practice and part of your broader responsibility as a property owner.

For a broader look at how Indiana handles related animal issues, see our guides on hunting laws in Indiana and roadkill laws in Indiana.

Legal Methods for Removing Nuisance Wildlife in Indiana

Indiana law permits several removal methods for property owners, but the method you use must comply with both state regulations and local ordinances. The most common legal approaches include live trapping, lethal trapping, shooting, and exclusion techniques.

Live Trapping

While trapping animals is not always required or desirable, it may be necessary in some cases to alleviate damage. Homeowners typically use a box-style or cage live trap. Raccoons, skunks, opossums, groundhogs, gray squirrels, and fox squirrels are examples of mammals that do not require a permit in Indiana. Resident landowners or tenants can legally capture these species if the animal is causing damage to the property.

One critical rule to know: Indiana has a 24-hour trap check law. You must check your traps at least once every 24 hours. Within 24 hours of capture, the person who takes the animal must release it or euthanize it.

Shooting and Firearms

Landowners, or a person with written permission from a landowner, may take coyotes year-round on private property by snaring, trapping, or shooting without a permit from the DNR. For other species, shooting may be legal depending on the specific animal and circumstances, but you must always check local ordinances before discharging a firearm. Be sure to check local ordinances prior to using pyrotechnics or firearms.

Trap Specifications

If you use foothold or body-gripping traps, Indiana sets specific size limits. Foothold traps cannot have an inside jaw spread exceeding 6½ inches. Conibears or other body-gripping traps cannot have an inside jaw spread exceeding 8 inches in diameter if round, or 7½ inches if square.

Exclusion and Deterrents

Implementing wildlife deterrents such as fencing, motion-activated lights, or removing brush and debris can help discourage wildlife from making a home on the property. For bat conflicts specifically, the best way to keep bats out of your house is to keep up with the maintenance of your home. Normal wear and tear can cause gaps and cracks in masonry or siding, loose soffits, and chimney caps. Maintaining the exterior of your home can greatly reduce opportunities for bats to enter.

Pro Tip: Exclusion — sealing entry points after animals have left — is often the most permanent and cost-effective solution. Unlike trapping, it addresses the root cause and does not require ongoing effort or permits for most species.

For nuisance birds that do not require handling, you may employ methods that will not require you to handle the birds, such as putting up a barrier or applying a non-toxic product that will discourage perching. This approach keeps you out of the permit process entirely for many bird species.

Relocation Rules in Indiana

Many homeowners assume that trapping an animal and releasing it somewhere else is the kindest option. Indiana law complicates that assumption significantly — and violating the relocation rules is one of the most common legal mistakes property owners make.

Under Indiana law, homeowners are not allowed to relocate wild animals without written permission from the landowner where the animal will be released. This applies to common nuisance species such as raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and opossums. Without consent, releasing wildlife onto someone else’s land — even public property — violates state regulations and can result in fines or penalties.

There is also a geographic restriction. Animals that are released must be released on land in the county where they were captured. Furthermore, the landowner or property manager must give permission for the release.

There are practical reasons behind these rules beyond legal compliance. Displaced animals often struggle to survive in unfamiliar environments and may introduce parasites or diseases into new areas. Even worse, released animals may try to return, only to cause more damage or stress to your property.

Relocation Requirement	What Indiana Law Requires
Landowner permission for release site	Written permission required before releasing any animal on any property, including public land
County restriction	Animal must be released in the same county where it was captured
Time limit before release or euthanasia	Within 24 hours of capture (for landowners acting without a permit)
Sale, trade, or gifting of captured animals	Prohibited — animals cannot be sold, traded, bartered, or gifted

These nuisance animals cannot be possessed for more than 24 hours and cannot be sold, traded, bartered, or gifted. If you want to hold an animal longer or explore other options, you will need to work with a licensed wildlife control operator.

Species With Special Rules in Indiana

Not all animals fall under the standard nuisance removal framework. Several species carry additional state or federal protections that create a separate — and stricter — set of rules.

Rabbits

Rabbits are a common garden pest, but they are treated differently from raccoons or squirrels under Indiana law. If you want to trap or shoot rabbits, you will need a nuisance wild animal control permit from the DNR, or you will need to take them during the rabbit season using only those methods legal during the open rabbit season.

White-Tailed Deer

Deer cannot be handled under the standard nuisance permit at all. White-tailed deer can be taken outside the season only with a special deer damage control permit issued by a DNR District Wildlife Biologist; you cannot take any white-tailed deer under the authority of a nuisance wild animal control permit.

Wild Turkeys

A DNR Nuisance Wild Animal Control Permit is required for wild turkeys; contact the DNR Indianapolis office at (317) 233-6527.

Canada Geese

While Canada geese were once nearly extinct due to overharvest and loss of habitat, through restoration and reintroduction they are now common in Indiana. As migratory native birds, they are both state and federally protected. Because of this, taking Canada geese outside of hunting in the regulated season requires a permit. Contact your DNR district wildlife biologist for the special permit process.

Bats

Bats deserve special attention because Indiana is home to federally protected bat species. The Indiana bat is federally protected and listed as endangered. These bats play a crucial role in pest control, consuming large quantities of insects nightly. Disturbing their roosting sites, particularly during hibernation, is illegal and can have severe consequences for their populations.

Another bat species under federal protection is the Northern long-eared bat. This species faces threats from habitat loss and white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease. Legal protections focus on preserving hibernation sites and minimizing disturbances during critical periods.

A permit holder must notify the Division of Fish and Wildlife within 24 hours of the taking of more than five individual bats from any one site or structure between June 1 and July 31. If you discover bats in your home, exclusion work during the appropriate time of year — and with proper professional oversight — is the only legal path forward for protected species.

Migratory Birds (Hawks, Owls, Woodpeckers)

A state permit from Indiana DNR is not required to take non-endangered species of hawks and owls. However, the landowner or tenant experiencing the damage or safety threats will need to have a federal migratory bird depredation permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to harm, kill, or capture one.

Only English or house sparrows, European starlings, and feral pigeons can be taken without a federal or state permit. All other species of birds, including woodpeckers and owls, can be captured, possessed, or transported only with a permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Bobcats, River Otters, and Endangered Species

Indiana’s endangered species include the Indiana bat, alligator snapping turtle, eastern massasauga rattlesnake, and timber rattlesnake. An endangered species cannot be possessed or taken without a special permit issued by the Division of Fish and Wildlife with approval of the Endangered Species Coordinator.

If an endangered species or river otter is accidentally captured in a trap, release it immediately at the capture site; if it is killed in the trap, you must give it to the DNR. Venomous snakes are a narrow exception: venomous snakes can be taken without a permit only when posing an immediate threat to human life.

Common Mistake: Assuming all snakes, bats, or birds on your property can be handled freely. Many are federally protected regardless of whether they are causing damage. When in doubt, call the IDNR before taking any action.

When You Need a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Indiana

There are situations where doing it yourself is either legally prohibited or practically unwise. A licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) holds a state-issued permit that authorizes them to handle situations that are off-limits to ordinary property owners.

Those who provide nuisance wild animal control services to the public or charge a fee for their services must pass a test before obtaining a nuisance wild animal control permit. The test is free of charge and can be taken at properties throughout the state. Once they pass the test, continuing education in the amount of 16 hours every 4 years is required, or they must take the test again.

You should strongly consider hiring a licensed operator in the following situations:

• The animal involved is a protected species (bats, migratory birds, endangered reptiles)
• You need deer or wild turkey removed outside of hunting season
• The infestation is large-scale or involves animals inside the structure of your home
• You want to ensure proper exclusion work is done after removal
• You are a tenant and need the landowner’s written permission process handled correctly
• The situation involves potential rabies exposure (raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats)

Because of the large number of raccoons and other species that cause a nuisance for landowners throughout the state, the DNR is unable to provide assistance to actually help remove the animals. The state points property owners toward licensed operators as the primary resource for hands-on removal help. You can find a list of licensed NWCOs through the IDNR’s wildlife removal permits page.

Those who provide a service to the public or charge a fee for nuisance wild animal control services must pass a test before obtaining a permit and pay a $25.00 fee for the permit. That low barrier to entry means the licensing pool is broad — so ask any operator you hire about their experience with the specific species involved.

For context on how other states structure similar programs, see our guides on wildlife removal laws in Tennessee, wildlife removal laws in Ohio, and wildlife removal laws in Pennsylvania. You can also find vetted professionals and educational resources through national wildlife organizations.

Penalties for Violating Nuisance Wildlife Laws in Indiana

Indiana takes wildlife violations seriously, and the penalties scale with the severity of the offense. Ignorance of the law is not a defense — and some violations carry consequences that go well beyond a fine.

Civil Reimbursement Penalties

For unlawful taking of animals other than deer or turkey, Indiana Code establishes specific reimbursement amounts. A person who takes or possesses a wild animal (except a deer or turkey) in violation of state law shall reimburse the state $20 for the first violation and $35 for each subsequent violation. These civil amounts are in addition to any criminal penalties.

For deer and wild turkey, the stakes are much higher. If a person commits an offense involving unlawfully taking or possessing a deer or wild turkey, taking or possessing one by illegal methods or with illegal devices, or selling or purchasing one, the court may order the person to reimburse the state $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for each subsequent violation.

Criminal Misdemeanor Charges

Hunting outside legal seasons or taking illegal deer or turkey is a Class B misdemeanor. Penalties include up to 180 days in jail and fines up to $1,000. More serious violations like illegal possession of deer carcasses become Class A misdemeanors. Class A misdemeanors carry fines up to $5,000 and up to one year in jail.

License Revocation and Equipment Seizure

Courts can revoke hunting licenses after convictions. The DNR can also suspend licenses for not following license conditions. Repeat offenders face longer suspensions, and some violations can ban you from hunting for several years.

Equipment such as guns and vehicles used in intentional violation of fish and wildlife laws may be seized for evidence and, upon conviction, confiscated at the discretion of the court. This means a single serious violation could cost you far more than any fine — including your truck, ATV, or firearms.

Federal Penalties for Protected Species

When the animal involved is federally protected — such as the Indiana bat, Northern long-eared bat, or any migratory bird — you are no longer dealing with state law alone. At the federal level, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforces laws that protect endangered species and migratory birds, including the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which provide critical protections for at-risk species. Federal violations can result in significantly steeper fines and potential imprisonment independent of any state charges.

Important Note: If you accidentally capture a protected species in a trap set for a nuisance animal, stop immediately. If an endangered species or river otter is accidentally captured in a trap, release it immediately at the capture site, or if it is killed in the trap, you must give it to the DNR. Contact a DNR conservation officer as soon as possible.

Understanding Indiana’s nuisance wildlife laws is not just about avoiding fines — it is about handling wildlife conflicts in a way that is safe, effective, and legally sound. Whether you are dealing with a raccoon in your attic or a coyote near your livestock, knowing the rules gives you a clear path forward. When the situation involves protected species or requires professional removal, connecting with a licensed wildlife control operator is always the right call. You can also explore resources from Defenders of Wildlife for broader conservation context, or review how neighboring states handle similar issues in our guides on wildlife removal laws in Georgia and wildlife removal laws in Florida.