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Nuisance Wildlife Trapper Questions
Click here for Notice of Major Changes to Nuisance Wildlife Trapper Program Effective July 1, 2008
How can I register as a Nuisance Trapper? After reading all the questions and answers below, fill out this application. You will be required to provide your Florida Drivers License or Florida ID number, along with your Name, Address, Phone and counties of operation. The Nuisance Wildlife Trapper registration is provided to individuals only, not to businesses; therefore when setting up your account, set it up as an individual account. If you are representing a business, enter its name in the Doing Business As field later in the Application process.
How much does it cost to register and how long will it last? The registration is free and it is valid for one year.
How long will it take to get registered? You may print a copy of your registration after you provide all the required information. You must have a printer that you can access from your computer workstation.
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. For more information regarding humane ways of conducting euthanasia, please refer to the Report of the American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia (PDF).
What animals are we allowed to trap? You are allowed to trap nuisance or destructive wildlife. This DOES NOT include alligators, 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. If you will be transporting or keeping venomous snakes, you are also required to obtain a "License to Possess or Exhibit Venomous Reptiles". This application can be found at http://myfwc.com/permits/index.html.
Does this registration allow me to take alligators? No. Nuisance-Alligator Trappers are selected using a different process and pay a fee. Contact the Alligator Management Section or by phone 1-866-392-4286 for more information.
Will this registration cover all of Florida? Yes, this is a statewide registration, but requestors must specify the counties in which they are willing to work. You will be listed under these counties when the public does a search for Nuisance Wildlife Trappers.
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.
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.
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.
Are Muscovy ducks legal to take? Yes. This species is not native to Florida.
Can I trap feral or wild hogs? Yes, outside of Wildlife Management Areas hogs are considered domestic livestock and are the property of the landowner. Before transporting hogs, contact the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry for applicable regulations in Florida.
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