Nuisance Wildlife Laws in Nebraska: What Property Owners Need to Know

Wildlife is part of life in Nebraska. Whether you farm the Platte River Valley, run a suburban homestead near Omaha, or manage a rural acreage in the Sandhills, you will almost certainly cross paths with animals that damage property, threaten livestock, or create safety concerns. Knowing where your rights begin — and where the law draws the line — can save you from costly fines or criminal charges.

Nebraska’s nuisance wildlife framework is built around the Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 37 and the rules of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC). The system gives landowners meaningful tools to protect their property while keeping wildlife management in balance for all Nebraskans. This guide walks through every layer of that system so you can act legally and confidently.

Important Note: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Nebraska wildlife law is detailed and subject to change. Consult a licensed attorney or contact the NGPC directly for guidance specific to your situation.

What Counts as Nuisance Wildlife in Nebraska

Nebraska does not use a single statutory definition of “nuisance wildlife,” but the NGPC recognizes a practical category of animals that cause damage to property, agricultural crops, stored goods, fences, tree farms, or livestock — or that pose a direct threat to human health and safety.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission acknowledges that wildlife periodically causes damage to agricultural crops, stored crops, fences, tree farms, and other property, and may present a threat to human health and safety. This acknowledgment forms the foundation of the state’s depredation and damage-control framework.

Animals most commonly treated as nuisance wildlife in Nebraska include white-tailed deer, Canada geese, wild turkeys, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, red and gray foxes, badgers, minks, long-tailed weasels, and fox squirrels. Certain bird species — including European starlings, English sparrows, and common pigeons — receive different treatment under state law because they are not classified as protected wild birds.

Wild birds in Nebraska means species native to, migrating to or through, or having established free-ranging populations in the state, except the English sparrow, the European starling, and the common pigeon. That exclusion matters practically: those three bird species can be removed without the permits required for protected wildlife.

Your Rights as a Property Owner in Nebraska

Nebraska law gives private landowners and tenants real authority to protect their property from wildlife damage — but that authority varies significantly by species. Understanding which animals you can act on without a permit, and which require one, is the most important distinction you need to make.

Any private landowner or tenant may destroy or have destroyed any predator preying on livestock or poultry or suspected of causing other damage on land owned or controlled by such person without a permit issued by the commission. For purposes of this subsection, predator means a badger, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, opossum, raccoon, red fox, or skunk.

That is a broad permit-free right for agricultural damage situations. However, it applies specifically to predators threatening livestock or poultry, or suspected of causing other damage. It does not give you an open license to kill any animal on your property at any time for any reason.

Within the State of Nebraska and in accordance with the laws and regulations of municipalities, persons or their agents may remove wild birds and wild mammals which are causing damage to personal property or have entered a building. This provision extends to non-agricultural situations — a raccoon in your attic or a squirrel damaging your home qualifies.

The Commission has a legal mandate to respond to complaints and take actions necessary to minimize damage when possible. You can always contact your local NGPC district office to request assistance, technical advice, or abatement supplies before taking any action yourself.

Pro Tip: Before trapping or removing any animal, check with your local municipality. Nebraska law requires that all city ordinances, county rules, and state laws remain in effect even when a damage-control permit is issued. Local discharge restrictions or trapping bans may apply in your area.

Legal Methods for Removing Nuisance Wildlife in Nebraska

The methods you may use to remove nuisance wildlife in Nebraska depend on the species involved, your permit status, and the location of the problem. Not every tool is legal for every situation, and some methods require specific authorizations.

Nebraska Game and Parks utilizes a variety of tools in response to depredation, including technical advice, abatement materials and supplies, and/or damage-control permits. Landowners can request access to these resources through their local district office.

Broadly legal options for most landowners include:

• Exclusion and fencing — Barriers, fencing, and other exclusion devices can be a step in preventing wildlife damage.
• Hazing and scare devices — Hazing or scare devices can make your property less desirable to wildlife.
• Live trapping and removal — Permitted for species causing property damage or entering a building, subject to relocation rules covered below.
• Lethal control of listed predators — Permitted without a commission permit when predators are threatening livestock or poultry on your land, as described under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 37-559.
• Damage-control permits — Damage-control permits are issued for wildlife currently causing damage, such as deer, antelope, elk, turkey, gamebirds, and other wildlife species.

One specialized legal method worth knowing is raptor-based abatement. Wildlife abatement means the use of a trained raptor to frighten, flush, haze, take, or kill certain wildlife to manage depredation, damage, or other threats to human health and safety or commerce caused by such wildlife. A separate Raptor Permit is required from the NGPC for this method, and federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reporting requirements also apply.

Poison devices face strict limitations. It is lawful to use a device operated by the explosion of small amounts of gunpowder or other explosives, designed to discharge poison into the mouth of a wolf, coyote, fox, wildcat, or other predatory animals upon the grabbing or seizing of the bait attached to such device, provided it does not discharge any ball, slug, shot, or other missile, and does not endanger the life and limb of any human being or animal other than a predatory animal, during the legal trapping season for fur-bearing animals. These devices come with strict placement rules: such a lawful device when used shall be set not less than two hundred yards from any federal, state, or approved county highway and not less than one thousand yards from any school or from any inhabited dwelling without written permission of the resident of the dwelling.

Relocation Rules in Nebraska

Live-trapping a nuisance animal is only half the equation. What you do with it afterward is equally regulated, and releasing wildlife in the wrong place or without authorization can itself constitute a violation.

Nebraska’s wildlife regulations under Title 166 address private wildlife management directly. Fox squirrels and wild mammals classified as furbearers may be euthanized only by those persons holding a valid Wildlife Damage Control Permit or who are acting under the authority of a municipality. This means that if you trap a fox squirrel or a furbearer like a raccoon, you cannot simply kill it on your own — euthanasia of those animals requires either a permit or municipal authorization.

The protected species list under this same provision is significant. Species explicitly exempt from private wildlife damage control — meaning you cannot remove or euthanize them without special authorization — include mountain lions, lynx, bears, wolves, otters, bobcats, gray fox, and swift fox.

When issuing a Wildlife Damage Control Permit, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission shall prescribe the methods, means, species, numbers, time limits, and locations authorized for control under the permit and shall require the submission of annual reports summarizing damage control activities. Furbearers or portions thereof may not be transferred to another person or sold under the authority of this permit.

As a general rule, if you trap a non-furbearer that is not on a protected list, you should contact your local NGPC district office before releasing it elsewhere. Releasing wildlife onto public land or another person’s property without permission can create legal exposure. Not all responses will be appropriate and/or legal for all species. Contact your local Nebraska Game and Parks District Office to discuss the appropriate response options.

Key Insight: Nebraska does not have a blanket “catch and release anywhere” rule for nuisance wildlife. The NGPC sets species-specific and location-specific conditions on every Wildlife Damage Control Permit. Always read your permit terms before releasing any trapped animal.

Species With Special Rules in Nebraska

Several animals in Nebraska carry additional layers of legal protection that override the general property-owner exemptions. Knowing these species before you act is essential.

Deer, Antelope, and Elk

The commission is authorized, when written request has been filed by the property owner, to remove by any means at any time any deer, antelope, or elk causing damage to property. You cannot unilaterally shoot a deer damaging your crops outside of hunting season — you must file a written request with the NGPC first. The Commission’s Antlerless Hunter Database also connects landowners experiencing deer damage with hunters who can help reduce the population legally.

Mountain Lions

The mountain lion (Puma concolor) has a narrow exception to the permit requirement. Any private landowner or tenant or agent of such person may kill a mountain lion immediately without prior notice to or permission from the commission if such person or agent encounters a mountain lion and the mountain lion is in the process of stalking, killing, or consuming livestock on such person’s property. Outside that specific scenario, mountain lions are protected and cannot be killed without authorization.

Canada Geese

Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Nest and egg management requires registration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under a federal depredation order. Nebraska wildlife regulations require that annual summaries of goose control activities be submitted to the NGPC, approximating the number of geese, eggs, and nests controlled, the methods used, and the timeframe.

Threatened and Endangered Species

Nebraska law does not allow a farmer or rancher to destroy those species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and other listed federal wildlife acts. Nebraska’s own Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act adds a state layer of protection on top of federal rules. One narrow exception exists: taking of massasauga or timber rattlesnake will not be considered unlawful if it is done for the immediate protection of the health of humans, livestock, or pets.

Migratory Birds

All native migratory birds — including raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl — are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Nebraska law incorporates these federal protections by reference under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 37-559(4). Disturbing nests, eggs, or birds of protected species without a federal permit is a federal offense, regardless of whether the bird is causing property damage. You can compare how neighboring states handle similar protections in our guides to nuisance wildlife laws in Missouri and nuisance wildlife laws in Iowa.

When You Need a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Nebraska

Some nuisance wildlife situations in Nebraska go beyond what a property owner can legally handle alone. Knowing when to call a licensed professional — and what qualifications to look for — protects you legally and ensures the problem is resolved effectively.

A Wildlife Damage Control Permit issued by the NGPC is required for operators who charge fees for nuisance wildlife removal services. A wildlife control permit is required for private operators to take, transport, release, or euthanize designated wildlife that is causing damage to property or is a risk to human health or safety.

You should strongly consider hiring a licensed wildlife control operator when:

• The problem species is a furbearer (raccoon, mink, skunk, fox squirrel) and you need it euthanized — a Wildlife Damage Control Permit is required for that step.
• The animal involved is on the protected or exempt list (mountain lion, otter, bobcat, wolf, lynx, bear).
• The damage involves a federally protected migratory bird or an endangered species.
• The infestation is large-scale or recurring and you need documented annual reporting for permit compliance.
• You are in an urban or suburban area where local ordinances restrict trapping or discharge of firearms.

When issuing a Wildlife Damage Control Permit, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission shall prescribe the methods, means, species, numbers, time limits, and locations authorized for control under the permit and shall require the submission of annual reports in a format outlined by the Game and Parks Commission summarizing damage control activities. Licensed operators are already set up to meet these reporting requirements, which saves you the administrative burden.

To verify that an operator holds a valid Wildlife Damage Control Permit, contact your local Nebraska Game and Parks Commission district office. Operators must renew their permits annually and are subject to permit revocation for non-compliance.

For context on how neighboring states structure similar licensing requirements, see our articles on nuisance wildlife laws in Kansas, nuisance wildlife laws in Colorado, and nuisance wildlife laws in Minnesota.

Penalties for Violating Nuisance Wildlife Laws in Nebraska

Nebraska takes wildlife law violations seriously, and the penalties range from mandatory fines to criminal charges and permanent loss of hunting and trapping privileges. Acting without the correct permit — even with good intentions — can expose you to real legal consequences.

Any person violating any of the provisions of the Game Law or any provisions of the rules or regulations adopted and promulgated by the commission, where a penalty is not otherwise fixed, shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor and shall be subject to a mandatory fine of at least fifty dollars upon conviction. That fifty-dollar floor is just the baseline — specific violations carry heavier penalties.

Here is a summary of the penalty tiers under Nebraska wildlife law:

Violation Type	Classification	Potential Penalty
General Game Law violation (no specific penalty)	Class III Misdemeanor	Mandatory minimum $50 fine
Violations of Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act	Class I Misdemeanor	Higher fines; possible imprisonment
Luring wildlife into a domesticated cervine facility	Class II Misdemeanor	Mandatory minimum $1,000 fine
Hunting without a valid permit	Varies	$100–$500 depending on species and repeat offenses
Violations of state wildlife management area rules	Class III Misdemeanor	Fines and possible exclusion from area

Monetary penalties are common for violating Nebraska’s wildlife laws. The Nebraska Revised Statutes outline specific fines for various infractions, varying based on offense severity and nature.

Beyond fines, your hunting and trapping licenses are at risk. Violators may face license suspension or revocation. The NGPC can suspend licenses from one year to a lifetime, depending on violation severity. Repeated offenses or egregious acts, like poaching endangered species, can lead to permanent revocation.

Conservation officers have broad enforcement authority. Any such officer or agent may, without a warrant, arrest any person whom he or she has probable cause to believe is violating, in his or her presence or view, the act or any regulation or permit provided for in the act. Equipment, wildlife, and records used in connection with a violation can also be seized and forfeited to the state.

The safest path is always to contact the NGPC before taking action on a species you are unsure about. Game and Parks biologists can help landowners identify options for addressing wildlife-related damage. That free consultation can prevent a costly mistake. You can also review how other states structure their penalty frameworks in our guides to nuisance wildlife laws in Ohio, nuisance wildlife laws in Michigan, and nuisance wildlife laws in Indiana.

Handling Nuisance Wildlife in Nebraska the Right Way

Nebraska’s nuisance wildlife laws balance two legitimate interests: your right to protect your property and the state’s obligation to manage wildlife as a shared resource for all residents. The wildlife resource is held in trust for all residents of Nebraska to utilize for recreation and education. That trust relationship shapes every rule in the system.

For most situations involving common predators — coyotes, raccoons, skunks, opossums — you have meaningful permit-free authority under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 37-559 when livestock or poultry are threatened. For deer, elk, protected birds, and listed species, you need to work through the NGPC before acting. And for any situation involving a furbearer that needs to be euthanized, or a species on the protected list, a licensed wildlife control operator with a valid Wildlife Damage Control Permit is your safest option.

For more state-by-state context on how nuisance wildlife laws work across the region, see our articles on nuisance wildlife laws in Illinois, nuisance wildlife laws in Wisconsin, and nuisance wildlife laws in Virginia.