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. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Common Wildlife Conflicts

Each year, the Wildlife Division receives several thousand calls for assistance from residents who have conflicts with wild animals. These conflicts typically include wild animals damaging crops, livestock, or property; wild animals posing a threat to human safety; diseased wild animals; and wild animals taking up residence in areas where they are unwanted. Information and suggestions for resolving problems are available below for several species (PDF versions of the information sheets are available where indicated).

Residents may also seek professional assistance from licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCOs) to solve wildlife conflicts. (List of licensed NWCOs)

Wildlife Conflict Resources

VIDEO -- Preventing Wildlife Conflicts with Electric Fencing: Electric fencing is the most effective way to protect crops and livestock from wildlife, including black bears.

Information by species:

Bats
Bears
Beavers
Birds of Prey and Livestock
Coyotes
Deer
Foxes
Geese  PDF version of Dealing with Nuisance Canada Geese
Pigeons
Opossums
Raccoons
Skunks
Squirrels
Woodchucks
Woodpeckers  PDF version of Dealing with Woodpecker Problems

Do Not Feed Waterfowl brochure

Do Not Feed Waterfowl Sign

Black Bear Agricultural Damage Program

The Connecticut General Assembly enacted Public Act 23-77 during the 2023 legislative session, creating a new authorization for permits to be issued by DEEP to take wildlife that “threatens or causes damage to agricultural crops, livestock or apiaries". This webpage lays out a structured approach that individuals should take to protect their agricultural products from bears in Connecticut.

Deer Crop Damage Permit Program

The Deer Crop Damage Permit Program (Connecticut General Statutes 26-82) provides commercial agriculturalists with a minimum annual gross income of $2,500.00 and an actual or potential loss of this income from their cultivated agricultural crops, the opportunity to reduce damage caused by deer when the firearms deer hunting seasons are closed.

Report Dead Birds

Link to an online form to report dead birds. 

Wildlife Conflicts Involving Rabies Vector Species

Information on Rabies and various other Wildlife Diseases

Homeowners are strictly prohibited from trapping and shooting wildlife outside regulated seasons, unless the animal has been actively causing property damage or is an obvious threat to public health and safety. If this course of action is taken under such circumstances, you must still comply with state trapping laws and local firearms restrictions.

Relocation of rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, and fox) is prohibited under Connecticut General Statutes Section 26-47(b) and 26-57. This restriction is necessary to prevent human-assisted spread of this disease and is an important component of the state’s nuisance wildlife control program.

The trapping or removal of rabies-prone species by a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator is encouraged only if the animal is causing property damage, appears to be sick or diseased, or is posing a public health and safety threat. Strongly recommended alternative controls include eviction from buildings using harassment or one-way doors, followed by animal proofing and eliminating wild animal access to food and shelter.

How to Become a NWCO -- Provides information to individuals interested in becoming Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators in Connecticut.

wildlifehelp.org logo

Do you need additional help and advice concerning conflicts with wildlife, particularly with species not listed here? Check out www.wildlifehelp.org and select "Connecticut" as your state to get started. This website is supported by the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Northeast Wildlife Damage Management Cooperative.  

Content last updated in August 2024.