Local wildlife information

Wildlife control in Texas

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

Wildlife in Texas: what to know

Around Texas

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 Texas: what the public record shows

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

412 (4% of 10,092 tested); wildlife 388 (94%)

Rabid animals confirmed, 2024

Bats 205, skunks 136, foxes 35, raccoons 11, coyote 1; cats 15, dogs 5.

Texas Department of State Health Services, Zoonosis Control

31% in 2024

Skunks tested that were rabid

South-central skunk variant is established statewide.

Texas Department of State Health Services, Zoonosis Control

95 of 254

Counties with rabies cases, 2024

Peak months April (skunks) and October (bats), 52 cases each.

Texas Department of State Health Services, Zoonosis Control

Nuisance Wildlife species recorded in Texas

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.
Gray fox / red fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus / Vulpes vulpes) — Rabies vector species in MD and PA; Texas bans transport of live foxes.
Coyote (Canis latrans) — Texas bans transport of live coyotes; Maryland operators release on site.

When wildlife are busiest in Texas

Skunk peak April; bat peak October.

Relocation requires TPWD authorization plus a monthly report.

Rules that apply in Texas

TPWD nuisance fur-bearing animals

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: Texas Department of State Health Services, Zoonosis Control; Rabies in the United States: Protecting Public Health; Class A (commercial) Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit study packet (17 Ill. Adm. Code 525); COMAR 08.03.15 Wildlife Damage Control Operator regulations; Nuisance Fur-bearing Animals (Outdoor Annual). Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources

Explore Texas cities

Abilene

Humid Subtropical · suburban setting

Wildlife control in Texas

Wildlife in Texas: what to know

Around Texas

What to note

A useful next step

Wildlife in Texas: what the public record shows

Nuisance Wildlife species recorded in Texas

When wildlife are busiest in Texas

Rules that apply in Texas

For context, nationally

Explore Texas cities

Abilene

Amarillo

Arlington

Austin

Brownsville

Carrollton

Corpus Christi

Dallas

Denton

El Paso

Fort Worth

Frisco

Garland

Galveston

Odessa

Houston

San Antonio

Plano

Laredo

Lubbock

Ask about wildlife control in Texas