Do you need help to remove nuisance wildlife in Illinois? Here are some things you should know. In Illinois, wildlife is collectively owned by the people, not by individual property owners. Additionally, most species of wildlife are protected under the Illinois Wildlife Code. This means that many species of wildlife may only be legally removed outside of the regular hunting and trapping season by a permitted Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) or by a property owner who has been issued a nuisance animal removal permit (NARP) or a Deer Removal Permit (DRP) by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
A nuisance animal removal permit (NARP) will be issued only if the animal is causing substantial property damage or if there is a serious public health or safety concern. Permits are not issued to deal with inconveniences such as squirrels raiding bird feeders, woodpeckers drumming trees, or rabbits foraging in flower beds. While these situations are understandably frustrating for the property owner, nonlethal options must be tried and failed before lethal removal is attempted. When dealing with nuisance wildlife, the first step is to confidently identify which species is causing the issue. The Wildlife Identification gallery includes common species, different types of wildlife damage to help with identification and species-specific guidance on how to prevent and control damage.
If you have tried the recommendations on WildlifeIllinois.org and are still experiencing substantial property damage and/or a threat to health or safety, you can request a removal permit from the IDNR. After completing the online application, some permits may be automatically issued. Conflicts involving bobcat, coyote, river otter, American badger, red or gray fox, ring-necked pheasant, and quail, and require consultation with the local IDNR Wildlife Biologist to determine if a permit is warranted.
Deer Removal Permits (DRP) are only issued for the removal of individual deer to assist in reducing damage or risks posed by deer to human safety. The primary purpose of a DRP is to provide some relief from an immediate, ongoing problem, not to control deer numbers. Deer Removal Permits may be issued to municipalities to control damage caused by deer in localized areas, such as golf courses, nurseries, orchards, parks, and natural areas, at the time the damage is occurring, as well as to minimize risks to human safety, such as at airports or areas experiencing frequent deer-vehicle accidents.
If you are dealing with wildlife damage and all other nonlethal options have failed, removal of an animal may be the final solution. There are three options for removing wildlife:
Once the animal is removed, we have some suggestions for repairing damage.