Wildlife Removal Laws in Georgia: What Homeowners and Property Owners Need to Know
May 7, 2026
A raccoon raiding your trash, a beaver flooding your backyard, or a snake sheltering under your porch — wildlife conflicts are a reality for Georgia property owners. Knowing exactly what the law allows you to do before you set a trap or call a company can save you from a costly fine or even criminal charges.
Georgia’s wildlife removal laws are governed primarily by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) under Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), and the rules are more specific than most people realize. This guide breaks down every layer of those rules — from what you can handle on your own to when you must bring in a licensed professional.
Can You Remove Wildlife Yourself in Georgia
The short answer is: sometimes, but with clear limitations. You can hire a nuisance wildlife control operator (NWCO), remove the animal yourself during regulated hunting and trapping seasons, or obtain a wildlife control permit from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Each of those three paths comes with its own rules, and mixing them up is where homeowners most often run into legal trouble.
If you want to handle a nuisance animal yourself outside of a regulated hunting or trapping season, you need to apply for a wildlife control permit through your regional DNR Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) office. These permits may last for up to 90 days, are issued to the property owner or legal resident only, and are issued for a specific property and species. That means a permit you obtained for one address does not cover a neighbor’s yard, and a permit for squirrels does not cover raccoons.
Wildlife control permits do not cover deer, bear, turkey, waterfowl, or alligators. Those species require a different approach entirely — more on that below. Before taking any action, also check your local ordinances. Always consult your local ordinances regarding rules related to discharging firearms.
Important Note: Georgia law prohibits the possession of most native wildlife without a permit. Even temporarily holding a wild animal — such as a trapped squirrel in a cage before release — can technically constitute unlawful possession if you do not have the correct paperwork in place.
Which Animals Can Be Removed Without a Permit in Georgia
Georgia does recognize a category of wildlife that can be taken without a standard hunting or trapping license under specific circumstances. It is unlawful to take nongame wildlife except fiddler crabs, coyotes, armadillos, groundhogs, beavers, starlings, English sparrows, pigeons, and venomous snakes. These species are considered either invasive, overabundant, or non-native, and Georgia law gives you more flexibility in dealing with them.
For fur-bearing animals like raccoons, foxes, and beavers, you may also take them during open trapping season on your own property — provided you follow all trapping regulations. Rabbits enjoy a narrow exception as well: trapping of rabbits on one’s own premises or on the premises of a family member or landlord is addressed separately under Georgia law, allowing for some self-help removal in those specific situations.
It is equally important to understand which birds you cannot touch. All native birds are federally protected in the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Citizens may not pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, or possess at any time any migratory bird, nest, or egg — including all feathers, shells, or other parts. This is a strict federal liability law, and ignorance of it is not a defense. The only birds you can generally remove without federal authorization are non-native, unprotected species such as the house sparrow, European starling, domestic pigeon or rock dove, the monk parakeet, and the Eurasian collared dove.
Pro Tip: If you are unsure whether a bird species on your property is federally protected, contact the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division at 1-800-366-2661 before taking any action. Migratory bird violations carry federal-level consequences.
Which Animals Require a Licensed Wildlife Removal Professional in Georgia
Several species in Georgia fall outside the reach of self-help removal entirely. NWCOs are not authorized to handle deer, turkeys, and alligators over four feet long. For those animals, you must contact the DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division directly — and even licensed operators cannot step in.
Wildlife control operators are not authorized to trap or remove bears involved in human-bear conflicts. This technique is employed only as a last resort when all other mitigation strategies have failed to resolve the conflict, and such measures are implemented on a case-by-case basis and conducted exclusively by WRD staff. In other words, if a black bear is causing problems on your property, your job is to call the DNR — not to set a trap.
Beyond those flagship species, any animal that is listed as threatened or endangered under Georgia or federal law requires professional involvement. Endangered species are particularly protected under Georgia law, with hunting restrictions in place to prevent further decline in their numbers — regulations that are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the survival of species at risk of extinction.
Raptors — hawks, owls, eagles, and other birds of prey — are also completely off-limits for self-removal. A permit is required to possess any raptor for falconry purposes, and the same protective framework applies to any attempt to trap, move, or handle them outside of a licensed context. If you find an injured raptor on your property, you should contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator rather than attempting to handle it yourself. You can explore resources through wildlife organizations that maintain rehabilitator directories for Georgia residents.
Common Mistake: Many homeowners assume that because an animal is causing damage, they have an automatic legal right to trap or kill it. Georgia law does not work that way. Species-specific rules always apply, and the method of removal must still comply with state regulations even when a permit is in hand.
Trapping Rules and Legal Methods in Georgia
If you plan to trap wildlife in Georgia — whether on your own property or elsewhere — you need to understand both the equipment rules and the licensing requirements that apply to your situation.
Trap size and placement restrictions are spelled out in O.C.G.A. § 27-3-63. Under that statute, it is unlawful to:
- Set any body-gripping trap of a size in excess of 9½ inches square except in water or on land within ten feet of water, including swamps, marshes, and tidal areas.
- Set on land any trap with a jaw opening larger than 5¾ inches — though this restriction does not apply to traps used in water.
- Trap any wildlife on the right-of-way of any public road or highway.
- Set, place, or bait any trap for the purpose of taking any wildlife upon the land or in the waters adjoining the land of any other person, except during the open trapping season for such wildlife, and then only after obtaining the written consent of the owner of the land — which written consent must be carried upon the trapper’s person while engaged in trapping.
Trap inspection is a firm legal requirement, not a suggestion. Traps must be inspected at least once every 24 hours. Failing to check your traps within that window is itself a violation of Georgia law. Trappers must dispatch fur-bearing animals caught in a trap and release domestic animals.
Trap identification is also mandatory. Every trap you place in the field must be legibly etched, stamped, or tagged with your permanent trapper’s identification number or your name. Any trap or other device found in use in the field that is not etched, stamped, or tagged as required may be confiscated and destroyed by the department through its officers and game wardens.
Snares are permitted in limited circumstances. Snares may be used for trapping beaver, provided that snares are set in water or on land within ten feet of water, including swamps, marshes, and tidal areas, and all snares must be marked with the trapper’s name or identification number.
Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) carry additional restrictions. The use of traps on any wildlife management area is restricted to certain areas and species and requires a permit from the appropriate Wildlife Resources Division Region Office — a list of WMAs where trapping is permitted can be found in the Hunting Regulations or by contacting your local WRD Region Office.
Key Insight: Trapping on someone else’s land — even with verbal permission — is not enough. Georgia law requires written consent from the landowner, and you must carry that written consent on your person at all times while trapping. A text message screenshot may not satisfy this requirement; get it in writing and keep a physical copy.
Can You Relocate Wildlife in Georgia
Relocating a trapped animal sounds like the humane solution, but Georgia law treats it with significant caution — and in many cases, it is either restricted or outright prohibited without proper authorization.
Relocating nuisance wildlife generally is discouraged and may be illegal. Check with local wildlife conservation officers and health department officials before moving any wildlife off your property. The concern is not just legal — it is also ecological and public health-related. Relocated animals can spread disease, displace native populations, and rarely survive in unfamiliar territory.
The NWCO is authorized to live-trap, possess, transport, and release in suitable habitat certain nuisance wildlife. That authority is specifically granted to licensed operators — not to private property owners acting on their own. Wildlife relocation, when necessary, should be carried out by trained professionals to minimize stress and harm to the animal, and it is important to follow these guidelines to uphold the welfare of the wildlife and adhere to legal requirements.
For species with disease concerns — particularly raccoons, foxes, and skunks, which are common rabies vectors — relocating animals across county lines is especially problematic. Health departments in Georgia can impose additional restrictions on moving these animals, and violating those rules can carry consequences beyond the DNR’s jurisdiction. Always contact both your regional WRD office and your county health department before attempting any relocation.
You can learn more about how Georgia handles other animal-related legal questions, including roadkill laws in Georgia, which also address what residents may and may not legally do with wildlife they encounter.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Georgia
When the situation calls for a professional, Georgia has a formal licensing structure in place. The key credential to look for is the Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) permit, issued by the Special Permit Unit of the Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division.
A Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Permit, issued by the Special Permit Unit of the Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division, is required to live-trap, possess, transport, and/or release into a suitable habitat certain nuisance wildlife outside the legal trapping season. This is the credential that allows a professional to work year-round, beyond the constraints that apply to ordinary trappers.
The NWCO is authorized to live-trap, possess, transport, and release in suitable habitat certain nuisance wildlife. In addition, the permittee is authorized, at their discretion, to euthanize certain nuisance animals and to transport non-endangered injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator — and with this authority comes the responsibility of handling this activity in a professional, humane manner beyond the view of the public.
If a pest control company offers the service of the trapping, removal, and/or control of any form of wildlife, including squirrels, Georgia law requires that they possess a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators license. This means that a standard pest control license is not sufficient — any company handling wildlife must hold the NWCO permit specifically.
| What to Verify | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| NWCO Permit from Georgia DNR | Required for all commercial wildlife trapping and removal |
| Species authorization on permit | Operators are not authorized for all species (e.g., bears, alligators over 4 ft) |
| Humane methods used | Georgia law requires humane handling beyond public view |
| Relocation plan disclosed | Relocation must be to “suitable habitat” — ask where animals go |
| Written contract provided | Protects you if the work is incomplete or causes additional damage |
To find a licensed NWCO in your area, visit the Georgia DNR’s Special Permits page at gadnrle.org/special-permits, which maintains a searchable list of permitted operators. You can also call the Special Permit Unit directly at 770-918-6408. For broader context on how wildlife protection organizations operate alongside state law, the Defenders of Wildlife and Wildlife Conservation Society provide educational resources on coexistence strategies.
Penalties for Illegal Wildlife Removal in Georgia
Georgia treats wildlife violations seriously, and the penalties scale with the severity and frequency of the offense. Understanding what you are risking before you act is essential.
Trapping violations under O.C.G.A. § 27-3-63 are classified as misdemeanors, but the minimum fines escalate sharply with repeat offenses. For the first offense, the offender shall be fined not less than $100; for a second offense within a two-year period after the first offense, not less than $300; and for a third offense and each subsequent offense within a two-year period after the first offense, not less than $750. Courts may impose fines above these minimums, and a misdemeanor conviction creates a criminal record.
Operating under a suspended or revoked license carries far steeper consequences. Any person who hunts, fishes, traps, possesses, or transports wildlife in this state in violation of a suspension or revocation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,500 nor more than $5,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months, or both.
Egregious violations can trigger additional consequences beyond fines. If any court finds that any criminal violation of the provisions of Title 27 is so egregious as to display a willful and reckless disregard for the wildlife of this state, the court may, in its discretion, suspend the violator’s right to hunt, fish, trap, possess, or transport wildlife in this state for a period not to exceed five years.
Equipment confiscation is another real consequence. It shall be the duty of game wardens to confiscate any trap, pitfall, deadfall, scaffold, catch, snare, net, salt lick, blind pig, baited hook, or other similar device used in violation of the wildlife laws, rules, and regulations and to dispose of same as directed by the commissioner.
Theft charges can also apply. A person who takes any wildlife in violation of Title 27 commits the offense of theft by taking, and a person who hunts, traps, or fishes in violation of this title commits the offense of criminal attempt. These are not just administrative violations — they are criminal offenses under Georgia law.
Important Note: Any permits issued under Title 27 can be revoked for violations. Losing your NWCO permit or trapping license affects your ability to operate legally going forward, and reinstatement is not guaranteed.
The bottom line is that wildlife removal in Georgia is a regulated activity, not a free-for-all. Whether you are dealing with a beaver dam, a raccoon in your attic, or a snake in your garage, the legal path forward depends on the species, the season, your location, and whether you hold the right credentials. When in doubt, contact the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division at 1-800-366-2661 or reach out to a licensed NWCO before taking action.
For related reading on Georgia’s animal laws, see our guides on backyard chicken laws in Georgia, hedgehog ownership laws in Georgia, and rooster crowing laws in Georgia. If you are researching exotic pet regulations more broadly, our overview of United States laws on exotic pets provides a helpful national comparison.