It is illegal to trap most species of wildlife in Illinois unless a permit has been issued by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Once a permit has been issued, any set trap is to be checked at least once every 24 hours and any trapped animal humanely removed.
If you are concerned about an animal that you’ve seen in a trap for more than one day, you can CONTACT the IDNR. On the online form, make a note of the species (if known), how long the animal has been trapped, and the trap location.
Photo: Chad Schieler
The Wildlife Illinois website was authorized by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in partial fulfillment of project W-147-T. The website was developed by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, 2wav, and the IDNR in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services and University of Illinois Extension to provide research-based information about how to coexist with Illinois wildlife.
