Wildlife removal: what it costs and who's allowed to do it

Published national ranges for removing raccoons, squirrels and bats, what to do about a bat in the house, and each state's permit rules for wildlife removal.

Updated October 7, 202680 official sources

On this page3 sections

1What wildlife removal costs
2If it's a bat
3Who may remove wildlife in your state

The figures here are published national ranges from cost guides. They aren't quotes. Who may remove an animal from your home for pay is set by each state, and the second half of the guide covers that.

What wildlife removal costs

Job	Published range
A typical wildlife removal	$200 to $600^1-2
One raccoon	$200 to $450^3-4
Squirrels	$250 to $600^5-7
Bats, a small group of up to five	$250 to $600^8-10

Animals in an attic or a chimney, sealing the holes they got in through, cleanup afterwards and larger bat colonies all add to these totals. There aren't enough published figures to give a range for them. Ask the company what its price includes.

If it's a bat

Don't handle a bat. The CDC says to avoid touching bats, and to talk to your health department if you think you've been in contact with one. If you find a bat in your home, it says to contact animal control or the health department so the bat can be caught safely and tested for rabies, and not to let it go until you've talked with a public health expert.¹¹

If a bat was in a bedroom overnight, call your local health department about rabies exposure. A CDC report on rabies deaths in 2024 notes the national recommendation that people who slept in a room with a bat, and are at increased risk of an exposure they didn't notice, get post-exposure treatment.¹²

Who may remove wildlife in your state

Wildlife removal is often licensed apart from pest control. Many states require a permit from the fish and wildlife agency to take, move or release animals for pay, and some let a property owner, or someone the owner names, deal with certain animals without one. The table says what the research found on an official page for each state, and links the state's list of permit holders where it publishes one. Where a state isn't listed, the research didn't find enough on an official page to say.

Some of these lists include only operators who chose to be listed, or who were referred, including Arkansas's, Florida's, South Carolina's and Virginia's, and Vermont's covers bat work only. A company missing from a list may still hold the permit, so ask for its permit number.

State	Who may remove wildlife, and where to find permit holders
Alabama	Nuisance wildlife control operators are permitted by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, to take protected wildlife causing property damage or safety concerns (Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.27).^13-14 See Alabama's permitted nuisance wildlife control operators.
Alaska	A nuisance wild animal control license from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, renewed yearly, lets the holder take nuisance wildlife on another person's land when it has invaded a dwelling or is damaging property (5 AAC 92.420).¹⁵
Arkansas	The Game and Fish Commission issues depredation permits, through its regional offices, to take game and nongame animals causing property damage; no permit is needed to shoot some nuisance species (such as raccoon, opossum, squirrel and striped skunk) during the day, or to trap and kill them, when they damage personal property. Arkansas's pest control law counts work for pay to control mammals, birds or reptiles that invade homes as pest control service, which needs a license.^16-17 See the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's list of nuisance wildlife control operators.
California	A trapping license from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for anyone who traps fur-bearing or nongame mammals for pest control. Live capture, removal or exclusion of vertebrate pests without pesticides (rats, mice and pigeons excepted) falls outside the Structural Pest Control Act if the business carries the insurance in Bus. & Prof. Code 8692 (Bus. & Prof. Code 8555(g)).^18-19
Connecticut	A nuisance wildlife control license from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is needed to run a business controlling nuisance wildlife other than rats and mice; it lasts two years and needs approved training (Conn. Gen. Stat. 26-47(b)).^20-21 See Connecticut's licensed nuisance wildlife control operators.
Delaware	A commercial nuisance wildlife control operator company needs a permit from DNREC's Division of Fish and Wildlife, with at least one employee who has passed the Division's certification program overseeing the work (7 Del. Admin. Code 3900, section 10.2). An operator who uses restricted-use pesticides also needs Department of Agriculture certification and a pesticide applicator's permit, which is separate from the wildlife permit.^22-23 Find a nuisance wildlife control operator on WildlifeHelp.org, the list Delaware's DNREC points to.
District of Columbia	Wildlife control operators must be licensed and their companies registered with DOEE to do wildlife control for profit in the District, using only DOEE-approved methods (Wildlife Protection Act of 2010, D.C. Code 8-2201 et seq.).²⁴ See the District's registered wildlife control service providers.
Florida	The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission doesn't license nuisance wildlife control operators; operators can list themselves in its voluntary directory each year. Trapping rats and mice in structures without chemicals needs FDACS's limited certification for commercial wildlife management personnel (s. 482.157, F.S.).^25-26 Find a registered nuisance wildlife trapper with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Georgia	A Nuisance Wildlife Control permit from the Department of Natural Resources (Law Enforcement Division, special permits) lets the holder live-trap, move, release or euthanize certain nuisance wildlife. Squirrels and commensal rodents fall under the structural Household Pest Control category (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 620-2-.01).^27-28 Find a permitted nuisance wildlife trapper with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Illinois	Removing mammals, game birds or bats from someone else's property for a fee needs a Class A Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit from the Department of Natural Resources, which takes a written exam (17 Ill. Adm. Code 525.20). Removing migratory birds for a fee needs a Class D permit.²⁹ See Illinois' licensed nuisance wildlife control operators.
Indiana	Anyone who charges a fee or offers nuisance wild animal control to the public needs a nuisance wild animal control permit from the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, after passing a written exam with at least 80 percent (312 IAC 9-10-11).^30-31 See Indiana's permitted wildlife control operators.
Iowa	A business that charges a fee to remove nuisance wildlife needs an annual nuisance wildlife control operator (NWCO) permit from the Department of Natural Resources, after passing a written test with at least 80 percent (571 IAC 114.3, 114.6).^32-33 See Iowa's licensed nuisance wildlife control operators.
Kansas	A wildlife control permit from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, which requires eight hours of instruction and a department exam passed with at least 80 percent (K.A.R. 115-16-6). It covers furbearers, small game, coyotes, nongame mammals and some birds, but not house mice or Norway rats (K.A.R. 115-16-5).^34-35 See Kansas' nuisance wildlife damage control permit holders.
Kentucky	A commercial wildlife control operator (WCO) permit from the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, which requires a passing score on the National Wildlife Control Training Program course (301 KAR 3:120).³⁶ Find a permitted wildlife control operator with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Louisiana	Anyone offering commercial nuisance wildlife control needs a nuisance wildlife control operator permit from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, plus a trapping license and a basic hunting license, after scoring at least 80 percent on the department's exam (La. Admin. Code 76:V.127). Commercial vertebrate control with pesticides is a separate structural pest control license phase, limited to nonresidential establishments (La. Admin. Code 7:XXV.101).^37-38 See Louisiana's permitted nuisance wildlife control operators.
Maine	An Animal Damage Control (ADC) agent certificate from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in classes that include home and garden species, bats and commercial pest management companies, and most classes need a trapping license (09-137 CMR ch. 27; 12 M.R.S. §10105).^39-40 See Maine's Animal Damage Control agents.
Maryland	A commercial wildlife damage control permit from the Department of Natural Resources is needed to provide wildlife damage control for a fee; mice, rats, moles and voles don't need one (COMAR 08.03.15.02, 08.03.15.04). Using pesticides, including repellents, on wildlife also needs the Department of Agriculture's 7C wildlife control category (COMAR 15.05.01.08).^41-43 Find a permitted wildlife control operator with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Minnesota	There's no state nuisance wildlife license. A property owner's or occupant's agent may take bats, snakes, squirrels, raccoons, foxes, opossums, beaver and other listed animals causing damage without a license, must tag traps and must report kills of some species to a conservation officer within 24 hours; other protected animals need a DNR special permit (Minn. Stat. 97B.655).^44-45
Mississippi	Landowners and leaseholders, and agents they name in signed written permission with an expiry date, may take nuisance animals (nutria, beaver, foxes, skunks, coyotes and wild hogs) on private land year-round (40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, R. 7.1).⁴⁶
Missouri	No permit is needed for a property owner, or the owner's representative, to trap or shoot wildlife that's damaging the property, except deer, elk, turkeys, black bears, mountain lions and endangered species; what's taken must be reported to a Department of Conservation agent within 24 hours (3 CSR 10-4.130).⁴⁷ Find a nuisance wildlife control operator with the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Montana	Trapping fur-bearing animals takes a Class C trapper's license from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MCA 87-2-601).⁴⁸
Nebraska	A landowner or tenant needs no Game and Parks permit to destroy, or have destroyed, a badger, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, opossum, raccoon, red fox or skunk causing damage on their land (Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-559).⁴⁹
Nevada	Unprotected mammals may be taken without a license, and protected wildlife damaging property is taken under a Nevada Department of Wildlife depredation permit issued on the owner's or tenant's complaint (NAC 503.193; NAC 503.710).⁵⁰
New Hampshire	Commercial nuisance wildlife work needs a Level II Wildlife Control Operator license from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, which takes a 6-hour workshop, NWCOA certification or a previous Level II license (Fis 308.02, Fis 308.05).⁵¹
New Mexico	Using pesticides to control rodents, birds, bats and predators takes the 7B vertebrate animal control category (21.17.50.8 NMAC).⁵²
New York	Anyone who charges a fee to take, move or release nuisance wildlife needs a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator license from DEC (ECL 11-0524).^53-54 See New York's licensed nuisance wildlife control operators.
North Carolina	Wildlife damage control or removal for pay, including eviction and exclusion, needs a Wildlife Control Agent license from the Wildlife Resources Commission (15A NCAC 10H .1501).^55-56 Find a licensed wildlife control agent with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
North Dakota	Using pesticides on vertebrate pests such as rodents, certain predators and bats away from structures takes the vertebrate class (NDAC 60-03-01-05).⁵⁷
Ohio	Anyone paid for nuisance wild animal control, including bat exclusions, needs a Commercial Nuisance Wild Animal Control Operator license from ODNR's Division of Wildlife (ORC 1531.40; OAC 1501:31-15-03).⁵⁸ See Ohio's licensed nuisance wild animal control operators.
Oklahoma	A Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator permit from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, issued after the National Wildlife Control Training Program and its exam and renewed each calendar year (OAC 800:25-37-2).^59-60 See Oklahoma's permitted nuisance wildlife control operators.
Oregon	Anyone charging a fee to control furbearers, unprotected mammals other than moles, and western gray squirrels in cities and urban areas needs a Wildlife Control Operator permit from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. A business permit needs at least one employee who passed the ODFW test (OAR 635-435-0015).^61-62 See Oregon's permitted wildlife control operators.
Rhode Island	Anyone in the business of wildlife control on another's property needs a Nuisance Wildlife Control Specialist permit from DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife. Holders of a Category 7A or 7D pesticide license are exempt only for mice, Norway rats, English sparrows, rock pigeons and European starlings (250-RICR-60-00-3.6).⁶³ See Rhode Island's permitted nuisance wildlife control specialists.
South Carolina	SCDNR issues free depredation permits to take wildlife that's damaging property, and none is needed to catch furbearers or squirrels within 100 yards of the owner's home (S.C. Code 50-11-2570). Trapping nuisance animals other than rats and mice in structures isn't structural pest control (S.C. Code Regs. 27-1070).^64-65 See South Carolina's list of wildlife control operators.
South Dakota	Trapping fur-bearers such as raccoons, skunks and opossums needs a trapping license or an exemption under the game laws (SDCL 41-8-19, 41-8-20). Game, Fish and Parks can issue a written permit to take game animals or birds that are damaging property (SDCL 41-6-29).^66-68
Texas	Live-trapping an animal at a home or business, or putting up barriers against nuisance animals, without pesticides is outside the structural pest control license (Occ. Code 1951.058). A landowner or agent may take fur-bearers causing damage on that land (Parks and Wildlife Code 71.004), and relocating live-trapped fur-bearers needs written TPWD authorization.^69-71
Utah	The Division of Wildlife Resources issues certificates of registration to businesses that do nuisance wildlife control (Utah Admin. Code R657-3b-6). Anyone may kill coyotes, field mice, gophers, ground squirrels, jackrabbits, muskrats and raccoons at any time (R657-3b-9).⁷²
Vermont	Anyone who traps rabbits or fur-bearers for pay on someone else's property to protect it needs a Vermont trapping license (10 V.S.A. 4828).⁷³ See Vermont Fish and Wildlife's list of bat exclusion operators.
Virginia	A nuisance wildlife business needs a Commercial Nuisance Animal Permit from the Department of Wildlife Resources, and new applicants complete the Virginia Wildlife Control Training Program (Va. Code 29.1-412, 29.1-417; 4VAC15-30-50). The permit doesn't cover pesticides, which need pesticide certification.^74-75 Find a licensed trapper or wildlife control specialist with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Washington	Trapping or controlling wildlife on someone else's property for a fee needs a Wildlife Control Operator certification from the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WAC 220-440-100, 220-440-110).^76-78 Find a certified wildlife control operator with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
West Virginia	A nuisance wildlife business needs a Wildlife Damage Control Agent license from the Division of Natural Resources, which takes an online course and a closed-book test on 58 CSR 41 and the hunting and trapping rules.⁷⁹ See West Virginia's licensed wildlife damage control agents.
Wyoming	Coyotes, jackrabbits, porcupines, raccoons, red foxes, skunks and stray cats are predatory animals in Wyoming and may be taken without a license, subject to listed exceptions (W.S. 23-1-101, 23-3-103).⁸⁰

A company that also uses pesticides on animals may need a pest control license as well. How to check a pest control company's license links each state's lookup.

The figures are published national ranges, not quotes, and local prices vary. For prices for your own job, you can get quotes from wildlife removal companies near you.

Ranges compiled from HomeGuide, Fixr and Angi; bat guidance from the CDC; permit rules from state wildlife agencies and legislatures, checked October 2026.

Wildlife removal: what it costs and who's allowed to do it

What wildlife removal costs

If it's a bat

Who may remove wildlife in your state

Tell us what's happening

Sources (80)

Find pest control companies in your county