Alaska is unlike any other state when it comes to wildlife. Moose wander through Anchorage neighborhoods, bears investigate trash cans in the Mat-Su Valley, and foxes den beneath suburban decks from Juneau to Fairbanks. When a wild animal becomes a problem on your property, your first instinct might be to handle it yourself — but Alaska’s wildlife laws are strict, and acting without the right permits can result in serious penalties.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) manages the state’s wildlife under a robust framework of state statutes and administrative regulations. Whether you’re dealing with a nuisance squirrel or a moose that has taken up residence in your yard, understanding what you can legally do — and what you must leave to licensed professionals — protects both you and Alaska’s wildlife.
This guide walks you through the key rules governing wildlife removal in Alaska, from permit requirements and legal trapping methods to relocation restrictions and the penalties for getting it wrong.
Can You Remove Wildlife Yourself in Alaska?
The short answer is: rarely, and almost never without a permit. Under 5 AAC 92.420, nuisance wildlife in Alaska means animals “that have invaded a dwelling, are causing damage to property, or are an immediate threat to health, safety, or property.” ADF&G requires permits before a person can kill, destroy, relocate, or haze (systematically harass) wild animals that are creating a nuisance or a threat to public safety.
Any person who kills a wild animal in defense of life or property must file a report and surrender to ADF&G or the Alaska Wildlife Troopers certain animal parts within a prescribed time period. This means even a legitimate self-defense shooting of a bear on your property triggers a legal obligation to report and surrender parts — it is not a free pass to act without consequence.
Alaska’s laws on possessing native and nonnative wild animals are strict, and they differ from laws in other states. The goal of these laws is to protect Alaska’s valuable wildlife populations from diseases, parasites, and a variety of other negative effects that can result from contact of native species with nonnative species. These principles extend directly into how the state treats any attempt to capture, move, or kill wildlife — even on private land.
Pro Tip: Before taking any action against a nuisance animal, contact your regional ADF&G office or call the Alaska Wildlife Troopers. Getting verbal guidance first can prevent an unintentional violation and help you obtain the correct permit quickly.
Which Animals Can Be Removed Without a Permit in Alaska?
Alaska’s permit requirements are broad, and the list of species you can remove without any authorization is very short. Truly non-native, invasive pests — such as Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), house mice (Mus musculus), and common pigeons (Columba livia) — are generally not classified as “game” under Alaska law and can be controlled by property owners without a permit.
Beyond those introduced pest species, the legal landscape changes quickly. Alaska regulations provide that, except as otherwise provided in the chapter, no person may possess, import, release, export, or assist in those actions with live game, unless the person holds a possession permit issued by the department. Because “game” in Alaska covers an expansive list of mammals and birds, most of the animals you are likely to encounter as nuisances — squirrels, hares, foxes, beavers, and ravens — fall under state protection.
Some species may be possessed without a permit but may not be released into the wild, which includes dogs, cats, chimpanzees, white rats, and many others. This distinction matters: even if you legally hold an animal, releasing it without authorization is a separate violation. When in doubt, treat any wild Alaskan animal as requiring a permit before you touch it.
Which Animals Require a Licensed Wildlife Removal Professional in Alaska?
Large and legally protected species in Alaska must be handled by, or at minimum in coordination with, ADF&G or a licensed wildlife control operator. This category includes black bears (Ursus americanus) and brown/grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis), moose (Alces alces), wolves (Canis lupus), wolverines (Gulo gulo), lynx (Lynx canadensis), and all migratory birds.
Alaska’s Board of Game is responsible for considering and adopting regulations to establish wildlife conservation areas, hunting seasons, bag limits, harvest means and methods, and disposal or propagation programs. Any removal of these regulated species outside of those frameworks — even for property protection — requires a specific depredation or public safety permit from ADF&G.
Migratory birds carry an additional layer of federal protection. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects many bird species from disturbance. This means that ravens, eagles, owls, and most songbirds cannot be trapped, killed, or even disturbed without a federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — on top of any state requirements. Hiring a licensed professional who understands both state and federal obligations is the only safe path forward with these species.
| Animal Category | Permit Required? | Who Can Remove? |
|---|---|---|
| Rats, house mice, pigeons (non-native) | No | Property owner |
| Squirrels, hares, foxes, beavers | Yes (ADF&G nuisance permit) | Permit holder or licensed operator |
| Bears (black and brown/grizzly) | Yes (depredation/public safety permit) | ADF&G or licensed professional |
| Moose, wolves, wolverines, lynx | Yes (depredation/public safety permit) | ADF&G or licensed professional |
| Migratory birds (ravens, eagles, owls) | Yes (state + federal MBTA permit) | Federally permitted operator |
Trapping Rules and Legal Methods in Alaska
Alaska has a well-developed trapping regulatory system administered by ADF&G. You are required to have a trapping license if you are 18 years of age or older. The license covers furbearers taken under trapping regulations, which are separate from hunting regulations — the method of take determines which set of rules applies to you.
Free-ranging furbearers may not be harvested with a firearm under a trapping license. Free-ranging furbearers may be harvested with a firearm under a hunting license during an open hunting season for the harvested species. This distinction is important if you are setting traps for nuisance animals: the moment you use a firearm to dispatch a trapped animal outside of a designated hunting season, you may be in violation of state law.
Legal trapping methods in Alaska include steel-jawed leg-hold traps, body-gripping (Conibear-style) traps, snares, and cage/box traps. Each method is subject to species-specific restrictions, seasonal windows, and geographic unit rules set by the ADF&G Trapping Regulations. Trap identification is also mandatory.
- Every trap must be marked with the trapper’s name and contact information so it can be identified in the field.
- Traps must be checked on a schedule set by regulation — abandoning a trap line is a violation.
- All traps, associated equipment, and garbage must be removed from the field no later than 7 days after the close of season.
- On some refuges, additional trapping permits are required beyond the standard state license. Each person must secure a trapping permit from the appropriate Refuge Manager prior to trapping on the Kenai, Izembek, and Kodiak Refuges and the Aleutian Islands Unit of the Alaska Maritime Refuge.
Important Note: Trapping regulations in Alaska are updated annually, with new seasons typically published by ADF&G in late July each year. Always verify the current rules before setting any trap, as seasons, bag limits, and unit-specific restrictions change regularly.
For wolf management specifically, the rules operate on a different track entirely. Wolf control is not a form of hunting or trapping. The state authorizes selected applicants to remove wolves using aerial and/or same-day-airborne methods to reduce predation pressure upon depleted moose and caribou populations. Programs are conducted by selected resident citizen pilot/gunner teams that receive discretionary state permits authorizing same-day airborne landing and shooting and/or aerial shooting from aircraft. This is a permit-only program — you cannot participate without prior ADF&G authorization.
Can You Relocate Wildlife in Alaska?
Relocating wildlife in Alaska is not a do-it-yourself option. ADF&G permits are needed before a person can kill, destroy, relocate, or haze wild animals that are creating a nuisance or a threat to public safety. The word “relocate” is explicitly listed alongside “kill” and “destroy” — the law treats unauthorized relocation the same way it treats unauthorized killing.
The rationale behind this rule is grounded in wildlife management science. Relocating animals without oversight can spread disease to new populations, disrupt territorial dynamics, and introduce animals to unsuitable habitats where they may simply return — or die. The goal of Alaska’s possession and wildlife laws is to protect Alaska’s valuable wildlife populations from diseases, parasites, and a variety of other negative effects.
The department may not issue a permit for the capture, possession, import, or export of any game animal, including a hybrid species of a game animal, for use as a pet. This also rules out any attempt to keep a “nuisance” animal you have trapped — even temporarily — as a way to avoid dealing with it. Holding wildlife without a permit is a separate offense from the act of trapping it.
If ADF&G approves a relocation for a specific nuisance situation, the agency or a licensed operator will determine the release site, the transport method, and any post-release monitoring requirements. You do not get to choose where the animal goes.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Alaska
For most nuisance wildlife situations involving protected species, hiring a licensed wildlife control operator (WCO) is the practical and legally safe solution. These professionals operate under permits issued by ADF&G and are trained in both the technical and legal aspects of wildlife removal in Alaska’s unique environment.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has a very important job: taking care of Alaska’s fish and wildlife. Their main goal is to make sure these animal populations stay healthy for many years to come. Licensed operators work within that mission — they know which methods ADF&G will approve, which species require federal coordination, and how to document removals properly to keep you out of legal jeopardy.
When selecting a wildlife control operator in Alaska, look for the following:
- ADF&G authorization: The operator should be able to show you the state permits that cover the species and methods they plan to use on your property.
- Federal compliance for birds: If migratory birds are involved, confirm the operator holds or has coordinated with USFWS for any required federal depredation permits.
- Insurance and bonding: A legitimate professional carries liability insurance that protects your property during the removal process.
- Written documentation: Get a written record of every animal removed, the method used, and the disposition (euthanized, relocated under permit, or released on-site).
- Exclusion services: The best operators don’t just remove animals — they identify and seal the entry points that allowed the conflict in the first place.
You can contact ADF&G’s Division of Wildlife Conservation at their regional offices to ask about permitted operators in your area, or reach the permits section directly at [email protected] or by phone at (907) 465-4148.
If you are dealing with a dangerous wildlife encounter — a bear in your home or a moose that has charged — contact the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, the law enforcement officers who handle wildlife violations and dangerous animal situations. Do not wait for a wildlife control operator in an active safety emergency.
For comparison, see how neighboring states handle similar situations: wildlife removal laws in Washington and wildlife removal laws in Minnesota both illustrate how permit structures vary significantly across the West and Upper Midwest.
Pro Tip: Document every wildlife conflict before calling a professional. Photographs of damage, tracks, entry points, and sightings give ADF&G and your operator the evidence needed to justify a nuisance permit quickly — speeding up the entire process.
Penalties for Illegal Wildlife Removal in Alaska
Alaska takes wildlife violations seriously, and the penalties reflect that. Illegally killing, trapping, relocating, or possessing wildlife without the required permits can result in criminal charges, substantial fines, and the loss of hunting and trapping privileges.
Under Alaska Statute Title 16 (Fish and Game), violations are classified as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the species involved and the nature of the offense. Taking a game animal without a license or permit is a misdemeanor, but commercial-scale poaching or the take of certain protected species can rise to felony level. Fines for misdemeanor wildlife violations can reach several thousand dollars per offense, and courts may also order restitution for the value of the animal taken.
If you fail to report a required harvest or incident, you will be ineligible for any permits the following regulatory year, and you may be cited. This reporting requirement applies not just to hunters but to anyone who kills a wild animal — including in a defense-of-life situation. Failing to surrender required animal parts after a defense kill is itself a separate violation.
Sealing requirements for animals, primarily bears and wolves, differ across parts of the state. This requirement not only allows biologists to gather important data to evaluate the health of various populations but is also integral in preventing the illegal harvest and trafficking of animals and their parts. Failing to present a bear or wolf for sealing after a legal take is a violation even when the take itself was lawful.
Beyond state penalties, federal law adds another layer of exposure. Disturbing or killing a migratory bird without USFWS authorization violates the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which carries its own federal fines and potential imprisonment. The Marine Mammal Protection Act similarly governs sea otters, walrus, seals, and sea lions found along Alaska’s coastlines — the Marine Mammal Protection Act protects marine mammals from disturbance and is enforced federally, independent of state law.
| Violation Type | Potential Penalty |
|---|---|
| Taking game without a license or permit | Misdemeanor; fines up to several thousand dollars; loss of license privileges |
| Failing to report a defense-of-life kill | Citation; ineligibility for permits the following regulatory year |
| Failing to surrender required animal parts (bears, wolves) | Citation; potential misdemeanor charge |
| Unauthorized relocation of game | Misdemeanor; same penalties as unlawful take |
| Killing a migratory bird (federal violation) | Federal fines up to $15,000; potential imprisonment under MBTA |
| Commercial-scale poaching or trafficking | Felony; significant fines and imprisonment |
The best way to avoid any of these outcomes is simple: contact ADF&G’s Division of Wildlife Conservation before taking any action against a nuisance animal. A phone call costs nothing; a wildlife violation can cost far more than the original problem was worth.
Wildlife removal laws vary considerably from state to state. If you live near a state border or are curious how Alaska’s rules compare, you can review the frameworks in place for Washington, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin to see how other states balance property protection with wildlife conservation.