Wildlife Removal Laws in Massachusetts: What Property Owners Need to Know
July 10, 2026
Massachusetts has some of the most structured wildlife removal laws in the Northeast, and if you live in the Bay State, the rules are stricter than you might expect. Whether a raccoon has taken up residence in your attic or a woodchuck is tearing apart your garden, your options are shaped by state law — not just personal preference.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, also known as MassWildlife, oversees the management of wildlife in the state and has established rules and regulations for trapping and removing wildlife that must be followed. Getting those rules wrong can cost you a fine, a court date, or both.
This guide breaks down exactly what you can and cannot do when wildlife shows up on your property — from DIY deterrents to hiring a licensed Problem Animal Control (PAC) agent. If you want to compare how Massachusetts stacks up against neighboring states, check out the wildlife removal laws in New York or the wildlife removal laws in New Jersey for side-by-side context.
Can You Remove Wildlife Yourself in Massachusetts?
Property owners are required to obtain permits from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife before conducting any wildlife control activities on their property, and these permits ensure that the methods used are humane and in compliance with state regulations. That baseline requirement catches many homeowners off guard.
Removing wildlife from your property in Massachusetts requires a permit, and permits are issued on a case-by-case basis and are only granted when there is a threat to public health and safety, damage to property, or a threat to endangered species.
What you can do without a permit is implement non-lethal deterrents. Deterrent strategies aim to discourage wildlife from entering properties in the first place, and these include using physical barriers like fences or netting, implementing scare tactics such as motion-activated lights or sound devices, and removing attractants like food sources. These passive measures are your safest starting point before pursuing any removal action.
Exclusion techniques can also be used to prevent wildlife from entering or damaging your property. Exclusion involves sealing entry points and using barriers to keep wildlife out, and these techniques are often preferred over trapping or removal as exclusion takes care of the immediate problem and solves future problems.
Pro Tip: Before calling a PAC agent, document the damage wildlife is causing with photos and dates. This record supports your case when MassWildlife evaluates a permit request and helps the agent choose the right removal strategy faster.
Which Animals Can Be Removed Without a Permit in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts draws a clear line between wildlife that requires formal authorization to handle and common nuisance species that fall under the PAC framework. However, there is no broad category of animals that any homeowner can simply trap and remove without any license or permit at all.
PAC agents may legally only handle the following species: skunk, muskrat, raccoon, weasel, red fox, gray fox, porcupine, Norway rat, mice, voles, red, gray and flying squirrel, opossum, chipmunk, rabbit, woodchuck, snapping turtle, moles, pigeon, house sparrow, starling, and certain species of bats. These are the animals most commonly encountered by Massachusetts homeowners.
For unlicensed homeowners, the practical legal options are limited to exclusion and deterrence. Exclusion techniques are a preferred method for wildlife control as they focus on preventing animals from entering properties rather than harming or relocating them, and property owners can use exclusion methods like sealing entry points and installing barriers to deter wildlife effectively.
Insects and rodents classified as household pests — such as mice already inside a structure — are generally handled under separate pest control frameworks. For anything classified as wildlife under M.G.L. c. 131, you will need proper authorization before taking any action beyond deterrence.
Key Insight: Norway rats and house mice inside a structure are typically managed under standard pest control rules, but once you move to live trapping or lethal control of wildlife species like squirrels or raccoons, Massachusetts law requires a licensed PAC agent.
Which Animals Require a Licensed Wildlife Removal Professional in Massachusetts?
Several species in Massachusetts require a licensed professional not just because of state rules, but because of overlapping federal protections. Knowing which animals trigger these requirements can save you from a costly mistake.
Bats
Bat removal and exclusion is the most common type of job where the correct process legally has to be followed. Bats are protected in Massachusetts so killing or harassing them is illegal, and the way you evict them from a home can only be done through the use of one-way doors on entry points before sealing them up.
Bats can only be evicted during specific times of year. June and July is the bat breeding season when young may be born and nurturing, so bats cannot be forced out during June and July, as well as in the winter months. Attempting DIY bat exclusion outside the legal window is a violation of state law.
Coyotes
Coyotes may be handled only by licensed PAC agents who have successfully completed a MassWildlife training and certification program specifically pertaining to coyotes, and PAC agents must also follow certain reporting requirements after taking or attempting to take a coyote.
Beavers
If you have damage caused by beaver flooding outside the November 1 through April 15 beaver trapping season, contact your local Board of Health for the necessary permit. Beaver flooding is a common problem in central and western Massachusetts, and the process involves multiple agencies.
Migratory Birds and Woodpeckers
If you have damage caused by migratory birds and other birds such as woodpeckers, which are protected under both state and federal law, you will require a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services Office in Amherst (413) 253-2403 to deal with the birds.
Endangered and Threatened Species
Massachusetts’ commitment to wildlife preservation is evident through the Endangered Species Act (MESA). This legislation aims to safeguard species facing extinction, prohibiting their removal or disturbance. The director may permit the removal, capture, or destruction of any species appearing on the list of endangered or threatened species to protect human health, when a public health hazard exists as certified by the department of public health.
Trapping Rules and Legal Methods in Massachusetts
Trapping is tightly regulated in Massachusetts, and the rules apply to both licensed professionals and any homeowner who attempts it independently.
Trapping wildlife in Massachusetts requires a valid trapping license issued by MassWildlife. Only traps designed for the specific wildlife you are targeting can be used and must be checked at least once every 24 hours. Trapped animals must be promptly and humanely euthanized.
To operate legally as a PAC agent, the licensing process involves several steps. Once applicants pass the Trapper Education Course they must purchase a trapping license, which can be purchased online or at a license vendor. They must also pass a written exam that covers biology, handling, capture techniques, animal welfare, diseases, and parasites.
A trapping license and a PAC license through the state of Massachusetts are both required. Without these, you cannot legally perform the work.
The following table summarizes the key legal requirements for trapping wildlife in Massachusetts:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Trapping License | Required from MassWildlife; must complete Trapper Education Course first |
| PAC License | Required to handle nuisance wildlife; pass written exam through MassWildlife |
| Trap Check Frequency | At least once every 24 hours |
| Trap Type | Must be species-specific |
| Disposition of Trapped Animals | Must be humanely euthanized on-site; relocation is illegal |
| Coyote Handling | Requires additional MassWildlife certification beyond standard PAC license |
| Firearm Euthanasia | Requires both a hunting license and a gun license |
PAC agents must have a hunting license to euthanize animals with a firearm, and you can buy a hunting license if you have completed a hunter education course in Massachusetts or another state. PAC agents must also have a gun license, which you can get from your local police department.
For context on how trapping rules differ across state lines, see the wildlife removal laws in Connecticut or the wildlife removal laws in Pennsylvania.
Can You Relocate Wildlife in Massachusetts?
This is one of the most misunderstood rules in Massachusetts wildlife law — and one of the most commonly violated. The short answer is no.
It is important for residents of Massachusetts to know the legality of simply trapping and relocating animals. In Massachusetts, it is illegal to trap an animal and relocate it somewhere else, and many homeowners are surprised to learn this.
MassWildlife warns not to move wildlife — not only is it illegal, but it is also ineffective as the animal could return, be in danger in their new environment, or cause problems to someone else.
The reasons behind the ban are practical as well as legal. Moving a problem animal that has associated human development with survival is essentially just moving the problem, and moving an animal that may carry diseases or parasites is transporting those problems with it, possibly introducing them into new areas.
If you hire a professional and they tell you they will catch all the animals and bring them somewhere else, they are operating illegally. A work-around for this situation is the use of one-way doors and proper exclusion methods, which are just as effective and provide long-term solutions.
Important Note: If a wildlife removal company offers to “catch and release” animals somewhere else in Massachusetts, that is a red flag. Licensed PAC agents in the state are not permitted to relocate wildlife — only to euthanize on-site or use one-way exclusion devices.
The only exception involves animals caught under an emergency permit. An emergency permit may be issued to catch any species other than beaver or muskrat within a 10-day period, but all animals caught under this permit must be turned over to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Massachusetts
PAC agents are licensed individuals that act on your behalf to solve wildlife problems. PAC agents are different from municipal Animal Control Officers, who mainly deal with domestic animal issues.
Animal Control Officers are not licensed to remove unwanted wildlife from property, homes, or businesses — examples include squirrels in attics, skunks under sheds, and raccoons in chimneys. This distinction matters when you call the wrong agency first and lose time dealing with an active infestation.
PAC agents are allowed to harass, take, and destroy, or release on-site non-domesticated reptiles, birds, and mammals that are endangering the life and health of humans or domestic animals. You can find a PAC agent near you through the MassWildlife Problem Animal Control agents directory.
When evaluating a PAC agent to hire, ask for the following before signing any agreement:
- Proof of a valid Massachusetts PAC license
- Proof of a valid MassWildlife trapping license
- Confirmation they hold additional coyote certification (if coyotes are involved)
- A clear explanation of their removal method — exclusion, euthanasia, or both
- Whether they will handle the permit paperwork on your behalf
PAC agents in Massachusetts have to follow guidelines and be appropriately licensed to do wildlife removal and exclusion, just like any contractor you hire. Vetting credentials upfront protects you legally and ensures the job is done correctly the first time.
To see how the PAC licensing model compares to other states, the wildlife removal laws in Virginia and the wildlife removal laws in North Carolina offer useful comparisons for the broader Mid-Atlantic and New England region.
Penalties for Illegal Wildlife Removal in Massachusetts
Massachusetts enforces its wildlife laws through the Environmental Police and MassWildlife. Violations can result in fines, criminal charges, equipment forfeiture, and mandatory restitution — and the penalties scale with the severity of the offense.
Under M.G.L. Chapter 131, Section 90, the penalty structure breaks down as follows:
- A violation of this chapter or a rule or regulation promulgated under this chapter for which no other penalty is provided shall be punished by a fine of not less than $200 but not more than $500, by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
- Whoever violates sections 5, 10, 11, 32, or 85 shall be punished by a fine of not less than $200 but not more than $500, by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both. In addition, for each bird or mammal unlawfully killed, taken, held, or possessed, a person shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 but not more than $500.
- For each bear unlawfully killed or possessed, a person shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 but not more than $5,000, by imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
- For each wild turkey unlawfully killed or possessed, a person shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 but not more than $3,000, by imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Upon a conviction for a violation of this chapter, any net, snare, trap, jacklight, or other similar device used by a person, or any bird or mammal taken in violation of this chapter, shall be forfeited to the commonwealth and shall be disposed of by the director of law enforcement.
Non-compliance may lead to legal actions, fines, and harm to wildlife or public safety. For PAC agents and wildlife control businesses, violations can also result in license suspension or revocation under 321 CMR 2.05.
Violations involving endangered or threatened species carry the steepest consequences. Accidentally or intentionally mishandling protected species can result in severe consequences, and violating laws protecting these species can lead to fines, legal actions, and damage to professional reputation.
Important Note: Restitution payments for illegally taken animals are assessed on top of fines and can significantly increase the total financial penalty. For high-value species like bear or deer, restitution alone can exceed the maximum statutory fine.
If you are dealing with wildlife issues in a neighboring state, review the wildlife removal laws in Connecticut, the wildlife removal laws in New Hampshire, or the wildlife removal laws in Rhode Island — each state handles nuisance wildlife differently, and what is legal in one state may be a violation in another.
Massachusetts law prioritizes wildlife protection and humane treatment above convenience. The safest path for any property owner is to contact a licensed PAC agent at the first sign of a wildlife problem, document all damage, and avoid any trapping or relocation attempts without proper authorization. When in doubt, consult MassWildlife directly before taking action.