Snake Removal Laws in North Dakota: What You Need to Know Before You Act
August 27, 2026
Finding a snake coiled near your porch or garage in North Dakota raises an immediate question: can you legally handle it yourself, or do state wildlife laws require something different? Unlike many states, North Dakota has almost no statutes written specifically for snakes, which creates both flexibility and confusion for homeowners trying to do the right thing.
This guide breaks down snake removal laws in North Dakota section by section, covering when self-removal is allowed, which species carry legal protections, and what happens if you get it wrong. You will also find guidance on permits, venomous snake safety, and when hiring a professional makes more sense than handling it alone.
Important Note: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Wildlife regulations can change, so verify current rules with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department or a licensed attorney before taking action against any snake on your property.
Is It Legal to Remove or Relocate a Snake Yourself in North Dakota
In most cases, yes. Research into snake laws across all 50 states found that there is nothing in the North Dakota Fish and Game Department’s regulations regarding snakes or other reptiles. That regulatory silence means North Dakota residents generally have the freedom to relocate a snake from their yard without a permit, provided they are not dealing with a species kept as a regulated exotic pet.
North Dakota officials generally advise leaving snakes alone because the state has fewer snakes than many other places. That advice reflects practical wildlife management rather than a legal mandate, but it is worth following since misidentifying a species before handling it is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make.
North Dakota’s broader wildlife framework still applies to how you go about removal. North Dakota’s framework for handling nuisance wildlife sits primarily under Title 20.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, which governs game, fish, predators, and boating. For a full breakdown of how this framework applies to raccoons, skunks, and other backyard visitors, the state’s wildlife removal laws overview covers the licensing rules that surround snake removal.
Pro Tip: Photograph the snake from a safe distance before attempting removal. A clear photo helps confirm whether you’re dealing with a harmless bullsnake or the state’s only venomous species, which changes your legal and safety options significantly.
Protected Snake Species in North Dakota
North Dakota does not maintain a state-specific protected list for its native snakes the way it does for furbearers, big game, and migratory birds. Wildlife biologists generally recognize about eight established species statewide, though some sources cite higher counts when including regional variants. There are 13 types of snakes in North Dakota including both venomous and non-venomous species by one count, while in fact, there are only eight different species of snake living in North Dakota, with only one venomous type by another.
That single venomous species is the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). The prairie rattlesnake stands as North Dakota’s only venomous snake species, making it a critical creature for outdoor enthusiasts to recognize and respect. According to the North Dakota Herp Atlas, they are primarily found in southwestern North Dakota, but have been observed in counties bordering the Missouri River on the east.
Since North Dakota’s regulations don’t single out native snakes for protection, none of the state’s non-venomous species — including common garter snakes, bullsnakes, and red-bellied snakes — carry special legal status that would prohibit relocation. This differs from states with more developed reptile codes; the wildlife removal rules in North Carolina illustrate how differently neighboring regions can regulate the same activity. North Dakota also has no native coral snakes to worry about, a point covered in more detail in this overview of coral snakes in North Dakota.
| Common Name | Venom Status | State Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Rattlesnake | Venomous | Not state-protected, but caution advised |
| Bullsnake | Non-venomous | Not state-protected |
| Plains Hognose Snake | Mildly venomous (rear-fanged) | Not state-protected |
| Western Hognose Snake | Mildly venomous (rear-fanged) | Not state-protected |
| Common Garter Snake | Non-venomous | Not state-protected |
| Plains Garter Snake | Non-venomous | Not state-protected |
| Red-Bellied Snake | Non-venomous | Not state-protected |
| Smooth Green Snake | Non-venomous | Not state-protected |
Permit Requirements for Snake Removal in North Dakota
Removing a wild snake from your property, in most cases, does not require any state permit at all. Permits only enter the picture when someone wants to keep a snake rather than simply relocate it. According to SnakeTracks’ state-by-state ownership guide, in North Dakota, by state law, residents are prohibited to keep venomous snakes as well as constrictors.
If a permit is what you’re after, don’t expect an easy approval. If you wish to own a venomous reptile, you must get a permit, which is almost impossible to do in this state since they will only be issued for educational research or preservation purposes. This effectively rules out permits for anyone who simply caught a rattlesnake and wants to keep it as a pet rather than release it.
North Dakota’s exotic wildlife rules classify venomous reptiles under a broader “Category 3” species framework alongside large felids, bears, and wolf hybrids. Per the North Dakota administrative code on exotic pets, if a venomous or nonvenomous injurious reptile is transported or removed from its primary enclosure for feeding or in order to clean the enclosure, the reptile must be kept in a fully enclosed container with a secure and locked lid which has air holes or other means of ventilation. That standard matters if you’re transporting a captured rattlesnake any distance before release. For anyone considering keeping a snake long-term rather than relocating it, the guide on whether you can own a venomous snake in North Dakota covers the licensing hurdles in more depth.
- No permit needed to catch and release a non-venomous native snake on your own property
- No permit needed to relocate a prairie rattlesnake away from a structure, provided it isn’t kept in captivity
- Permit required to keep any venomous snake or constrictor as a pet, with approval limited to education, research, or preservation purposes
- Secure, ventilated containers required any time a regulated reptile is transported
When You Can Legally Kill a Snake in North Dakota
Because North Dakota does not classify native snakes as protected game species, the legal exposure for killing one is much lower than it would be for a furbearer or big game animal. The state’s broader nuisance wildlife principles still apply as a useful guide. Residents do not need a license to take unprotected species of wildlife such as prairie dogs, rabbits, skunks, and ground squirrels, and native snakes fall into a similar unregulated category since NDGF rules don’t address them directly.
How you remove a nuisance animal depends heavily on the species, and that principle holds true for snakes as much as any other wildlife. Most homeowners never need to kill a snake at all — relocation handles the vast majority of encounters, and it avoids the misidentification risk that comes with reflexively killing anything that slithers. If you’re trying to time removal around when snakes are most active, the guide on when snakes come out in North Dakota can help you plan ahead of peak season.
Hunting-adjacent activities involving snakes, such as taking one while afield during a regulated season, fall under North Dakota’s general hunting framework rather than a snake-specific statute. The overview of hunting laws in North Dakota explains how unprotected species fit into that structure. If a snake is killed on a roadway rather than intentionally, the state’s roadkill laws in North Dakota outline what, if anything, you’re required to do afterward.
Common Mistake: Killing a bullsnake because it resembles a rattlesnake is one of the most frequent errors homeowners make. Bullsnakes mimic rattlesnake behavior, including tail-vibrating and hissing, but they pose no venom risk and help control rodent populations around structures.
Rules for Venomous Snake Removal in North Dakota
The prairie rattlesnake is the only species that changes the calculus significantly. These impressive serpents typically measure 2–4 feet in length, though exceptional specimens can reach up to 5 feet, and their bite carries real medical risk if left untreated. They’re most active during dawn and dusk hours from May through September, when temperatures range between 70–85°F, which is exactly when most homeowner encounters occur.
If a bite does happen, medical guidance is specific and differs from older first-aid myths. For snake bites, immobilize the affected limb, remove jewelry that might restrict circulation, and transport the victim to medical facilities immediately. Just as important is what not to do: never attempt to suck out venom, apply tourniquets, or use ice on snake bite wounds.
Legally, there is no state permit required to remove a rattlesnake from your property, but the practical risk is higher than with any other North Dakota species. Removal at a safe distance using a snake hook or professional equipment is strongly preferable to close-contact killing, which is when most bites actually occur. Given the venom’s tissue-damaging effects, treating any rattlesnake encounter with more caution than a garter snake or bullsnake encounter is simply good judgment, regardless of what the statute books say.
Pro Tip: Keep grass trimmed short and remove woodpiles or rock piles near foundations. Prairie rattlesnakes favor rocky crevices and abandoned burrows for shelter, so reducing that habitat near your home lowers the odds of an encounter in the first place.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Removal Operator in North Dakota
For homeowners uncomfortable handling any snake, venomous or not, professional wildlife control services operate throughout North Dakota. According to Allstate Animal Control’s North Dakota service listings, wildlife professionals throughout the state are experienced at taking care of the animals humanely and in accordance with local and state laws. That combination of humane handling and legal compliance is worth paying for when a rattlesnake is involved.
Professional operators bring identification skills that most homeowners lack. They are trained and experienced with the behaviors and traits of each animal, take care of the problem animals humanely, and know the laws governing nuisance wildlife removal in your area. That expertise matters most when a plains hognose snake’s rattlesnake mimicry has you second-guessing what’s actually in your yard.
- Confirm the operator is licensed and insured for wildlife removal work in North Dakota
- Ask whether they handle venomous species specifically, since not every general wildlife company does
- Request a written estimate before the visit, including any relocation distance or release-site policy
- Verify they follow humane relocation methods rather than default extermination
Hiring a professional also sidesteps a common liability question: if a bite or property damage occurs during a botched DIY removal, insurance and legal responsibility get murky fast. A licensed operator carries that risk instead of you, which is often worth the service fee alone.
Penalties for Illegally Killing or Relocating a Snake in North Dakota
Because native snakes aren’t classified as protected game in North Dakota, the penalty exposure for killing or relocating one is minimal compared to violations involving big game or furbearers. That said, North Dakota’s wildlife code does carry serious consequences for other categories of violations, and understanding that broader penalty structure helps put snake-related risk in perspective.
At the severe end, violation of [the wildlife exploitation statute] is a class C felony and, in addition to other penalties imposed by law, is subject to section 20.1-01-26, according to the North Dakota Century Code on wildlife exploitation. That provision generally targets large-scale commercial exploitation rather than a single homeowner relocating a snake, but it shows the state does escalate penalties sharply for serious wildlife crimes.
For genuinely protected species, North Dakota also imposes steep civil penalties as a deterrent. An individual who unlawfully takes a bighorn sheep, elk, or moose is subject to a civil penalty for the replacement value of the animal — five thousand dollars for a bighorn sheep, three thousand dollars for an elk, and two thousand dollars for a moose. Snakes currently sit outside that framework, but the pattern illustrates how quickly penalties can escalate once a species does gain protected status. The full North Dakota Century Code Title 20.1 lists every chapter governing game, fish, and predator regulations for readers who want to review the statutory language directly.
Important Note: Where genuine legal exposure exists is with permit violations, not relocation itself. Keeping a venomous snake without the required permit, or transporting one without a secure, ventilated container, can trigger enforcement action separate from anything related to killing or releasing the animal.
For a broader look at how North Dakota handles disputes involving nuisance animals more generally, including civil liability and property owner rights, the nuisance wildlife laws in North Dakota guide covers the enforcement patterns that apply across species.
Final Thoughts
North Dakota’s light regulatory touch on snakes gives homeowners more freedom than residents of many other states enjoy, but that freedom comes with a responsibility to identify species correctly and handle venomous encounters with real caution. Relocation remains the safest and most defensible choice in nearly every situation, whether you’re dealing with a harmless garter snake or the state’s one venomous resident. When in doubt, especially with anything that might be a prairie rattlesnake, a licensed wildlife removal operator is worth the call.