Trapper questions                                        | Return to Critter Questions |

1. How do I get a Nuisance Trapper Permit? Fill out this application and mail it to the regional office(s) corresponding to the counties in which you want to work. Upon receipt of your application, a permit will be issued along with report forms which must be returned to the Division of Wildlife in Tallahassee by January 30th of each year.
2. How much is the permit and how long will it last? The permit is free and lasts up to two years.
3. How long will it take to get the permit? The permit will be issued within 30 days of receipt of the request.
4. Are there any regulations on the humane way to euthanize raccoons and other animals? Chapter 828 of the Florida Statutes deals with the subject of euthanasia and others, but it currently discusses it only in terms of pets and other domestic animals. A certification course is required by this Statute for some people to conduct euthanasia. The Florida Animal Control Association is one source of information about when and where such courses are offered. For more information regarding humane ways of conducting euthanasia, please refer to the 1993 Report of the American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia.
5. What animals are we allowed to trap? You are allowed to trap nuisance or destructive wildlife. This DOES NOT include migratory birds other than blackbirds, grackles, cowbirds, or crows; migratory bird nests; state- or federally-listed Species of Special Concern, Threatened or Endangered Species; Florida black bear; or white-tailed deer.
6. Does this permit include alligators? No. Nuisance-Alligator Trappers are selected using a different process and pay a fee. Contact your regional office for more information.
7. Will this permit cover all of Florida? No. Permits are issued through the Regional Offices for specific counties. Requestors must specify the counties in which they want to work.
8. Where and how do we dispose of the animals? See the earlier question about the use of euthanasia. Animals may be hand-caught, live- trapped, snared, or shot as necessary. Permittees are not authorized to use poisons, steel traps, or gun and light at night, nor to discharge a firearm within a municipality or residential area or contrary to applicable law.
9. Can we drop them off in the woods? Not without the written permission of the receiving property owner. Additionally, non-native species of wildlife may not be released back into the wild.
10. Can you give me information on where to buy traps and supplies? There are many places where such items are available. While on the Internet, a simple search for "wildlife traps" produced good results for us.
11. Are Muscovy ducks legal to take? Yes. This species is not native to Florida.