Common Wildlife Problems
Each year, the Wildlife Division receives several thousand calls for assistance from residents who have problems with wild animals. These conflicts typically include wild animals damaging crops, livestock, or property; wild animals posing a threat to human safety; diseased wild animals; and wild animals taking up residence in areas where they are unwanted. Information and suggestions for resolving problems are available below for several species (PDF versions of the information sheets are available where indicated).
Residents may also seek professional assistance from licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCOs) to solve wildlife conflicts. (List of licensed NWCOs)
Wildlife Conflict Resources
VIDEO -- Preventing Wildlife Conflicts with Electric Fencing: Electric fencing is the most effective way to protect crops and livestock from wildlife, including black bears.
Information by species:
Bats
Bears
Beavers
Birds of Prey and Livestock
Coyotes
Deer
Foxes
Geese PDF version of Dealing with Nuisance Canada Geese
Pigeons
Opossums
Raccoons
Skunks
Squirrels
Woodchucks
Woodpeckers PDF version of Dealing with Woodpecker Problems
Do Not Feed Waterfowl brochure
Deer Crop Damage Permit Program
The Deer Crop Damage Permit Program (Connecticut General Statutes 26-82) provides commercial agriculturalists with a minimum annual gross income of $2,500.00 and an actual or potential loss of this income from their cultivated agricultural crops, the opportunity to reduce damage caused by deer when the firearms deer hunting seasons are closed.
Report Dead Birds
Link to an online form to report dead birds.
Nuisance Wildlife Control Conflicts Involving Rabies Vector Species
Information on Rabies and various other Wildlife Diseases
Homeowners are strictly prohibited from trapping and shooting wildlife outside regulated seasons, unless the animal has been actively causing property damage or is an obvious threat to public health and safety. If this course of action is taken under such circumstances, you must still comply with state trapping laws and local firearms restrictions.
Relocation of rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, and fox) is prohibited under Connecticut General Statutes Section 26-47(b) and 26-57. This restriction is necessary to prevent human-assisted spread of this disease and is an important component of the state’s nuisance wildlife control program.
The trapping or removal of rabies-prone species by a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator is encouraged only if the animal is causing property damage, appears to be sick or diseased, or is posing a public health and safety threat. Strongly recommended alternative controls include eviction from buildings using harassment or one-way doors, followed by animal proofing and eliminating wild animal access to food and shelter.
How to Become a NWCO -- Provides information to individuals interested in becoming Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators in Connecticut.
Do you need additional help and advice concerning nuisance wildlife, particularly with species not listed here? Check out www.wildlifehelp.org and select "Connecticut" as your state to get started. This website is supported by the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Northeast Wildlife Damage Management Cooperative.
Content last updated in December 2022.