You can legally kill raccoons in Wisconsin under specific circumstances, but the rules depend on whether you are a landowner, a hunter, or dealing with nuisance animals. Landowners and occupants can trap or hunt raccoons year-round on their own property without a license, while others must follow hunting seasons and obtain proper permits.
Releasing trapped raccoons is generally prohibited, and humane euthanasia is required within 24 hours of capture.
Landowner Provisions Allow Year-Round Killing Without License
The owner or occupant of any land, and any member of their family, may hunt or trap beaver, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, woodchucks, rabbits, and squirrels on the land without a hunting or trapping license at any time. This provision applies to your own property only and does not require a small game license that would otherwise be necessary for raccoon hunting.
However, landowners cannot hunt these animals during the 24-hour period before the commencement of the deer hunting season in areas where firearms deer hunting is established. Live trapping with cage or box traps is also permitted in cities, villages, or areas where firearm discharge is unlawful.
Hunting Racoon Requires Small Game License for Non-Landowners
For non-landowners, raccoon hunting in Wisconsin requires a small game license. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers a fact sheet indicating that hunting and trapping raccoons is allowed year-round on private property, though no DNR license is necessary for landowners.
If hunting with dogs, a separate license may be needed for training or hunting activities. Night hunting of raccoons is allowed year-round, including during all gun deer seasons except the nine-day deer firearm season in certain forest and central farmland zones.
Nuisance Animal Removal and Trapping Rules
When raccoons become nuisance animals causing property damage, the Wisconsin Trapping Association confirms that landowners do not need a license to trap raccoons on their own land year-round. Live-trapped animals must be either humanely killed or released within 24 hours on unenclosed private land with the landowner’s permission. However, releasing trapped raccoons is generally discouraged because raccoons are a rabies vector species in Wisconsin and pose serious health and safety risks.
Poison and Explosives Are Strictly Prohibited
Wisconsin law strictly prohibits using poison to kill raccoons. It is unlawful to use baits containing poison of any description in forests, fields, or other places where it might destroy wild animals or birds.
No person may take, capture, or kill any wild animal with the aid of any explosive or poison gas. Violators face fines up to $300 or imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both. The exception involves poison used on one’s own premises for rodent or pest extermination, but this does not apply to raccoons.
Relocation and Pet Ownership Restrictions
Owning a raccoon in Wisconsin is generally illegal without a special permit due to wildlife laws and safety concerns. Pet raccoons require permits and are only allowed for licensed facilities such as wildlife rehabilitation centers, research institutions, or educational organizations.
Even in states where raccoon ownership appears legal, local laws may impose additional restrictions, and secure enclosures with appropriate care standards are mandatory.
Health Risks and Rabies Vector Status
Raccoons are one of the most common wild animals in Wisconsin and are classified as a rabies vector species. This means any raccoon that bites a person or domestic animal may need to be tested for rabies, reinforcing the importance of humane killing rather than releasing animals back into the wild. The DNR fact sheet emphasizes that raccoons pose serious health risks to humans and pets.
Local Regulations Still Apply
While state law allows landowners to kill raccoons on their property, local authorities may have additional regulations regarding firearm discharge, trapping methods, or urban hunting restrictions. It is recommended to consult local authorities to ensure compliance with city or county ordinances before taking action against nuisance raccoons.
SOURCES:
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/hunt-raccoons-wisconsin-195817592.html
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/wisconsin/Wis-Admin-Code-SS-NR-17-04
