Local wildlife information

Wildlife control in Massachusetts

Learn what to look for around your property, explore your city, and ask about an inspection or a quote.

Wildlife in Massachusetts: what to know

Around Massachusetts

Conditions vary across the state. Choose your city below, then describe what’s happening around your home or business.

What to note

Where you see wildlife, how long it has been going on, and anything you’ve already tried are the most useful details to mention.

A useful next step

Ask about an inspection, what treatment would involve, and whether follow-up visits are included. You don’t need to identify the problem yourself before getting in touch.

Local research

Wildlife in Massachusetts: what the public record shows

Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in Massachusetts, when they are busiest, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.

Illegal under Massachusetts law

Moving wildlife off a property

MassWildlife states that state law prohibits capturing wildlife and relocating it off your property.

MassWildlife (Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife)

Released on the same property or humanely euthanised

Disposition of removed wildlife

Those are the only two lawful outcomes, and they apply to licensed Problem Animal Control agents as well as homeowners.

MassWildlife (Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife)

Nuisance Wildlife species recorded in Massachusetts

Raccoon (Procyon lotor) — Top terrestrial rabies vector in the East; relocation banned in most states.
Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) — Primary rabies reservoir in Texas and the central U.S.; Illinois requires euthanasia of trapped striped skunks.
Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) — Most common building bat; protected with maternity-season exclusion limits.

Problem Animal Control (PAC) agents are licensed by MassWildlife, are not state employees and charge for their services.

Rules that apply in Massachusetts

MassWildlife Moving Wildlife

For context, nationally

Around 4,000; more than 90% in wildlife — Animal rabies cases reported per year. CDC
More than 20% each — Skunks and foxes that expose people or pets and are rabid. CDC

Sources: MassWildlife (Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife); Rabies in the United States: Protecting Public Health; Class A (commercial) Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit study packet (17 Ill. Adm. Code 525); Impacted Bats. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources

Explore Massachusetts cities

Boston

Humid Continental · urban setting

Wildlife control in Massachusetts

Wildlife in Massachusetts: what to know

Around Massachusetts

What to note

A useful next step

Wildlife in Massachusetts: what the public record shows

Nuisance Wildlife species recorded in Massachusetts

Rules that apply in Massachusetts

For context, nationally

Explore Massachusetts cities

Boston

Brockton

Brookline

Cambridge

Fall River

Framingham

Haverhill

Lawrence

Lowell

Lynn

Malden

New Bedford

Newton

Plymouth

Quincy

Somerville

Springfield

Taunton

Waltham

Worcester

Salem

Ask about wildlife control in Massachusetts