Indiana Nuisance Wildlife Laws: What Property Owners and Operators Need to Know

January 31, 2026

Indiana wildlife law gives property owners meaningful rights when wildlife causes damage — but it also sets important limits on how that control can be conducted. Understanding the legal framework helps you make informed decisions and avoid inadvertent violations.

The Regulatory Framework

Indiana’s approach to nuisance wildlife control is governed primarily by:

• IC 14-22-38 — Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators
• 310 IAC 3.1 — Indiana DNR administrative rules covering wildlife
• Federal law — Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Endangered Species Act (for listed species)

The DNR Fish & Wildlife Division administers the state-level rules, issues operator registrations, and has enforcement authority. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service governs federally protected species.

What Property Owners Can Do Without an Operator

Indiana law gives property owners the right to protect their property from wildlife damage. Generally, without any special permit, property owners may:

• Trap nuisance wildlife on their own property using legal methods
• Disturb nests or dens of non-protected species causing property damage
• Exclude wildlife from structures (bat exclusion has seasonal restrictions)
• Take certain nuisance species outside hunting seasons when actively damaging property (groundhogs digging in fields, for example)

Important limitations:

• Trapped animals must generally be released within the county of capture or humanely euthanized — not transported to a different county for release
• Certain species have no legal lethal control option without additional permits (see protected species below)
• Local ordinances may prohibit trapping, firearm discharge, or other methods regardless of state law
• Anyone performing these services for compensation must hold a DNR registration

Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Registration

Under IC 14-22-38, any person or business trapping or removing wildlife for compensation must hold a current Indiana DNR nuisance wildlife control operator registration. Requirements include:

• Passing a DNR-administered exam covering Indiana wildlife law and approved methods
• Annual registration renewal
• Compliance with DNR rules on humane treatment, approved traps and methods, and record-keeping
• Operating only within the scope of their registration

Performing nuisance wildlife control for compensation without a registration is a Class C infraction for a first offense and escalates with subsequent violations.

Protected Species Require Additional Permits

Not all wildlife can be controlled under a standard nuisance operator registration. Species that require additional permits:

Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) — Federally endangered. Any control work that might affect Indiana bats requires a Section 10 Incidental Take Permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. This applies to bat exclusion work in habitats where Indiana bats may be present (summer or winter).

Northern long-eared bat — Also federally listed as endangered. Similar restrictions to the Indiana bat.

Bobcat — State-protected. Cannot be trapped or killed without a specific DNR depredation permit.

River otter — State-protected. Cannot be taken without a specific DNR permit.

Migratory birds (including most songbirds, raptors, geese) — Protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Harassment, capture, or lethal control of migratory birds (including Canada geese) requires a federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Note: Indiana nuisance wildlife operators in this directory do not handle waterfowl — the DNR maintains a separate waterfowl control operator list.

Approved Methods and Prohibited Practices

Indiana law and DNR rules specify what trapping and control methods are legal. Generally approved:

• Cage/live traps (standard for most nuisance situations)
• Body-grip (Conibear) traps (regulated — size and placement restrictions apply)
• One-way exclusion devices
• Lethal removal using firearms (where local ordinances allow)

Prohibited or heavily restricted:

• Poison for most wildlife species (no legal mammal poison baits approved for most nuisance species)
• Glue boards for wildlife
• Suffocation or drowning as a primary method
• Any method causing unnecessary suffering

If an operator proposes a method that sounds unusual or aggressive, ask specifically whether it is authorized under Indiana DNR rules.

Relocation Rules

A common misconception is that trapped wildlife must be “relocated to the woods.” Indiana DNR rules generally require trapped nuisance wildlife to be either:

1. Released within the county of capture at an appropriate site
2. Humanely euthanized

Cross-county relocation of most species is not permitted without specific authorization. This rule exists because relocation spreads disease, disrupts local wildlife populations, and rarely succeeds — most relocated animals die or return to their territory anyway.

Where to Get More Information

• Indiana DNR Fish & Wildlife Division: (812) 334-1137
• DNR nuisance wildlife operator list: in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Indiana field office): for questions about federally listed species

Use our directory to find a registered wildlife control operator near you or search by county.