Best practices for nuisance wildlife control operators in New York State

Home | Wildlife control | NYS DEC | CCE | NYS IPM

Ch 2: Balancing the needs of people and wildlife

Six questions to consider - 5

Is it legal?

Consider whether you are allowed to handle the species. Do you need permits or additional licenses for the methods you'd like to use? You may not take, possess, or transport a migratory bird without a federal permit, for example. To use chemical repellents on your customer's property, you'd need a commercial pesticide applicator license in addition to your NWCO license.

Can you legally use this method in this area? Local restrictions might affect which techniques you use to capture or kill an animal. Shooting is frequently regulated by local ordinances, but some areas will even control the type of fences you can install.

Have you secured all of the necessary permissions? If you want to release an animal off-site, you'd need approval from the landowner who's hired you and from the owners of the land you're going to use as a release site. Some people mistakenly believe they can release animals onto public land, such as parks or wildlife management areas, without permission. Nope! Talk to the property manager first.

Next Section (How would this play on the evening news?)