Raccoons, squirrels or skunks in your house in New York: who to call
The short answer: a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) licensed by the DEC. Here is why, and what you can do while you wait.
Why call a licensed operator
- The DEC says it is illegal for you to move or relocate an animal off your property. You cannot live-trap one and release it in a park or anywhere else.
- The DEC's NWCO license allows taking, transporting and releasing, or euthanizing wildlife that damages property or threatens public safety. Only the General (commercial) license holder may charge a fee for it.
- So a company that quotes you a price should have a DEC license. How to check one, or find licensed companies by county.
What the DEC says you may do yourself
The DEC publishes a table of when a permit is needed to take a nuisance animal. For the animals on this page:
| Animal | Nuisance (living under a porch, in an attic) | Damaging property |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | DEC permit needed | No permit needed |
| Skunk | No permit needed | No permit needed |
| Gray, black and fox squirrel | DEC permit needed | No permit needed |
| Red and flying squirrel | No permit needed | No permit needed |
This is the DEC's table, summarized. If you take an animal outside the hunting or trapping season, the DEC says it must be buried or cremated immediately. Read the full DEC page before acting. The DEC says taking an animal is only suggested if other methods do not solve the problem.
Raccoons
- The DEC says females look for den sites in late winter, litters are born in April and May, and the young stay with the mother until September or early October.
- To close an entry to an attic or porch, the DEC says to place a temporary cover when the raccoons leave on their nightly search for food, then make a permanent seal later.
- To check that they have left, the DEC says to sprinkle twigs, grass, or flour in the opening and watch for tracks. Do not permanently seal an entrance until you are sure every animal is out, and in spring listen for animal noises.
- The DEC says to keep garbage in a metal can with a strap through the lid.
Skunks
- The DEC says skunks look for places to spend the winter in early fall, and damaged foundations and spaces under porches suit them.
- Its remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces and to keep dogs confined.
Squirrels
The DEC pages we read give permit rules for squirrels but no entry-sealing steps. A licensed operator can tell you how they handle entry points and repairs.
Rabies
The DEC lists bats, raccoons and skunks as rabies vector species. If a person or pet may have been bitten or scratched, call your county health department. For bats in the house, see what to do and when exclusion is safe.
Next: what wildlife removal costs.