ABA Family Legal Guide

Home Ownership

Property Insurance and Other Protections

Security Issues

Does the law prohibit me from killing wild animals on my property?

It depends on the animal. Many states allow the killing of gophers, rattlesnakes, and coyotes without a permit, but most states impose hefty fines for killing other wild animals without a permit. Your state department of fish and wildlife has jurisdiction over wild animals, and a call to the nearest office will probably get you some advice. In some cases, it's not difficult to deter an invading animal. An eight-foot-high fence will stop most deer. Dried blood or a commercial mixture should repel rabbits. Storing trash so that it's not accessible to raccoons quickly forces these very smart (and often rabid) animals to find new territory.

Some animals are difficult to deter. Farmers lose thousands of dollars of crops to deer, pronghorns, and other graceful neighbors. In the West, ranchers cope with marauding bears and coyotes. Many states assist farmers with reducing the damage, and some reimburse farmers and ranchers for wildlife damage. Note that in most cases reimbursement programs, which are funded by hunting license fees, aren't open to farmers who bar hunters from their land.