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Nuisance Wildlife Control: NJAC - § 7:25-5.21
Squirrel (Sciurus spp.), raccoon (Procyon lotor), opossum (Didelphis virginianus), skunk (Mephitis mephitis), weasel (Mustela spp.), woodchuck (Marmota monax), coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) damage
- Property owners and occupants of dwellings suffering damage from squirrel, raccoon, opossum, skunk, weasel, woodchuck, gray fox, red fox and coyote, or their agents designated in writing, may control these animals by lawful procedures at any time subject to State law and local ordinances. Persons controlling coyotes under this provision shall notify one of the Regional Law Enforcement Offices within 24 hours.
- Farmers or their agents may control squirrels, raccoon, opossum, skunk, weasel, woodchuck, gray fox, red fox and coyotes, by lawful procedures at any time when found destroying livestock, crops or poultry, subject to State law and local ordinances. Farmers or their agents controlling coyotes under this provision shall notify one of the Regional Law Enforcement Offices within 24 hours.
- Authority: The authority for the adoption of the foregoing section is found in N.J.S.A. 23:4-1 and 23:4-9 and other applicable statutes.
The first column in the table below indicates no permit, these species are covered under the above regualtions (NJAC - § 7:25-5.21). Be sure to review all firearm regulations when utilizing firearms for wildlife control.
An Air Rifle (pellet gun) is considered a firearm in New Jersey.
| Nuisance Wildlife (Permit/Non-Permit) - Download pdf version of Chart | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Permit | NG Permit | Depredation Permit | Federal Permit | |
| Raccoon | X | |||
| Gray Squirrel | X | |||
| Opossum | X | |||
| Skunk | X | |||
| Groundhog | X | |||
| Weasel | X | |||
| Coyote | X | |||
| Red and Gray Fox | X | |||
| Mole | X | |||
| Vole | X | |||
| Flying Squirrel | X | |||
| Chipmunk | X | |||
| Bats | X | |||
| Snakes | X | |||
| Woodpecker 1 | X | |||
| Canadian Geese 1 | X | |||
| Pigeons | X | Must get letter from county Health Dept. for trapping or lethal control | ||
| English Sparrow 2 | X | |||
| Starling 2 | X | |||
| Beaver / Otter | *Permit required in season | X | ||
| Muskrat 3 | X | |||
| Wild Turkey 4 | X | |||
| Whitetail Deer 4 | X | |||
| 1 All Migratory Birds 2 Unprotected Species NJAC 7:25-5.22(b) | ||||
| 3 During open trapping season no depredation permit required however trapping and/or hunting4 license required | ||||