Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

How to Become a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO)

Connecticut law, CGS 26-47(b)(1), requires an individual to obtain a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) license prior to engaging in the business of wildlife control. Town employees, such as Animal Control Officers (ACO), are also required to obtain a NWCO license if they provide wildlife control services as part of their duties for town residents. However, ACOs or local/state police are not required to be licensed NWCOs to respond to emergency rabies situations or to destroy animals suffering from disease or posing a public safety threat.

To obtain a NWCO license, an individual must first:

  • Attend an approved Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator's training course;
  • Pass the DEEP NWCO licensing exam; and 
  • Submit an application (fillable PDF   Word file) for a NWCO license.

For information and to register for the next Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator training class, visit the Connecticut NWCO Association website at www.ctnwcoa.com.

Note: The CT DEEP Wildlife Division is no longer handling registration or providing training materials for the CT NWCO Association sponsored training class. Therefore, persons who wish to register for the training class should register directly with the NWCO Association.

The CT NWCO Association will provide all persons registered for the next NWCO training class important training materials to help prepare them for the class and state exam. This information will include, but not be limited to:

  • Copies of the CT NWCO Policies and Procedures Booklet, and
  • CT NWCO regulations that all licensed NWCOs must adhere to when providing wildlife control work in Connecticut.

The DEEP NWCO licensing exam will be given within a week of the NWCO training class - the date and time of the next exam is indicated on the training notice. Like the training, the DEEP NWCO exam is comprehensive and will cover a wide range of subjects, including but not limited to:

  • Wildlife biology and behavior;
  • Damage identification;
  • Recommended control strategies;
  • Humane handling;
  • Approved euthanasia methods;
  • Rabies policies; and
  • Applicable laws and regulations.

Only those persons who have attended approved NWCO training will be admitted into the exam.

If you need further information concerning the NWCO training class, please contact Jeff May, CT NWCO Association Training Coordinator, at 475-202-9283. For NWCO exam and licensing information, please contact the CT DEEP Wildlife Division, at 860-424-3011 or deep.wildlife@ct.gov.

The Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division issues commercial NWCO licenses for a two-year period at a cost of $250. A non-commercial (municipal) NWCO license is issued at no cost.

wildlifehelp.org logo

Licensed NWCOs are encouraged to register on the website www.WildlifeHelp.org to help people find the wildlife conflict prevention and control assistance they need. WildlifeHelp.org is supported by the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Northeast Wildlife Damage Management Cooperative.

Forms for Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCOs)

NWCO Application (Word  fillable PDF)

NWCO License Renewal Application  (Word   PDF)

NWCO Activity Report Instructions

NWCO Activity Report Form  (Word   PDF)

Resident Canada Goose Nest & Egg Depredation Order

Nuisance Wildlife Control Special Permit Report  (Word   PDF)

NWCO Special Permit Report -- Migratory Birds  (Word   PDF)

NWCO Special Permit Report -- Beaver Trapping  (Word   PDF)

Volunteer Beaver Trapper Special Permit Report  (Word   PDF)

Application -- Nuisance Beaver Trapper (Volunteer and NWCO)  (Word   PDF)

Beaver Trapper Application Information Letter

Nuisance Wildlife Control Program, Rabies, and Client Notification

Content last updated on April 8, 2022.