The Legal Aspects of Wildlife Removal: Understanding Regulations

Nuisance wildlife should never be a welcome sight on your Pittsburgh property. Invasive pests can cause significant damage to your home or business in a small amount of time and pose a health risk to you and your family. While it’s important to solve the issue quickly, attempting wildlife removal on your own may result in legal issues that could be worse than any infestation. Here’s what you need to know about the legal aspects of wildlife removal.

What to Know About Legal Wildlife Removal

Wildlife removal is a complex process that is often regulated depending on where you live and the invasive species you are dealing with. Some important things to keep in mind regarding wildlife removal include:

• Permits: Some species of animals, such as bats and birds, are considered protected species that require a license for removal.
• State laws: Pennsylvania law removes protections for animals that are sick, pose a risk to people, or cause damage. However, there are still strict laws regarding wildlife removal and release.
• Release regulations: Even if you trap the animal yourself, there will still be regulations on how and where you release it. It is also illegal to release animals on government property, so your options are limited.

The Legal Ramifications of DIY Wildlife Removal

While DIY removal is possible, it is not worth the hassle. For one, many DIY wildlife removal methods involve ineffective, inhumane, and unsafe practices that often harm the animal and can expose you to potentially dangerous diseases or animal attack.

Furthermore, there are many legalities to sort through if the wildlife on your property is a legally protected animal. Removal of an endangered species will require the experienced expertise of a team of wildlife removal professionals that have the necessary permits and methods to remove the critter legally. If you remove or harm a protected animal, you can face steep fines, penalties, or even the possibility of  jail time, depending on the critter and the severity of your offense.

Ultimately, attempting DIY wildlife removal could end up causing more problems than you’re solving. That’s why if you have a nuisance animal on your Pittsburgh property, you should call the wildlife experts at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh.

Professional Wildlife Removal Services in Pittsburgh

At Critter Control® of Pittsburgh, we use a tried and tested CritterSafe® method that is safe, effective and affordable. Our four-step process includes a thorough inspection, humane removal, property restoration, and exclusion techniques to permanently keep unwanted wildlife off your property. Our methods are efficient and follow all Pennsylvania wildlife removal laws.

To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our fast, safe, and legal wildlife removal services, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.