Landowners' Guide to Wildlife Control and Prevention Laws in Pennsylvania Repellents his publication provides Control and Prevention Repellents are chemicals that, when basic information for Methods applied, deter wildlife habitation and T Pennsylvania landown- feeding.a ers regarding their rights to Described below are various methods control nuisance wildlife. Further for controlling or preventing damage Toxicants information for many of the by nuisance wildlife. See the table to Toxicants are chemicals that, unlike species mentioned here can be find out which methods may be used repellents, kill or harm the animal or found in the Wildlife Damage to control particular species. Remem- bird.a Control fact sheet series, pub- ber that using more than one control lished by Penn State Cooperative method will give the most beneficial Fumigants Extension. Direct additional results. Fumigants are substances or mixtures of substances that produce gas, vapor, questions to a regional office of Habitat modification fume, or smoke intended to destroy the Pennsylvania Game Commis- Modifying habitat is adjusting practices rodents. Because of the complex nature sion or your county extension at home or on commercial lands to of rodent burrows, fumigants often are office. deter wildlife habitation. Such practices not effective when used alone.a include keeping lands well manicured, containing garbage and food properly, Kill trapping and live capture reducing food availability through the In most cases, the use of traps where use of insecticides and herbicides, and permitted is most effective. Various installing fencing around potential traps are available, depending on the nesting or feeding sites. situation. Live capture traps, like cage traps or box traps, can be set and left Frightening alone until the target species triggers Frightening discourages habitation by them. All traps must be checked every causing the animal to leave on its own. 36 hours. Kill trapping may require a Methods include shooting shell furtakers' license or permit from the crackers; regularly detonating gas Game Commission. exploders to scare mammals or birds; and using predator or distress calls, aWhen using any chemical, read the label electronic and vibration devices, and carefully for application methods and scarecrows. warnings. Use of certain chemicals requires permits and/or licenses. Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Licensing (717-783-3959). College of Agricultural Sciences Agricultural Research and Cooperative Extension Shooting must be buried on the site where Shooting live ammunition, whether to Landowner Control of taken, destroyed by incineration or frighten or kill, has limited application. Wildlife Damage: other proper disposal, or submitted Generally, live ammunition may only Laws and Regulations for laboratory analysis (58 Code § be fired during hunting season or 141.3.c-d). under permit. Discharge of cracker The Pennsylvania Game Commission's shells, firearms, or both may be regulations for wildlife protection and G Wildlife taken to protect personal regulated by municipality. Check your damage control are printed below. If property must be taken in a humane local ordinances. you have any concern that a control and lawful manner (58 Code § method violates these regulations, 141.3.a.3). All pest species can be excluded from contact your regional Game Commis- an area to prevent infestation or sion office before taking action to G Wildlife taken to protect personal damage before it begins. Check with control nuisance wildlife. Also contact property must be turned over to a your county extension agent for the the office to notify them of any wildlife Game Commission representative as proper exclusion methods to use for damage complaints. required in section 2125 (58 Code your particular pest. § 141.3.b.1).c G Protection is removed from wildlife, except migratory birds, big game, G No wildlife may be retained alive, and threatened or endangered sold, or given away (58 Code § species, when personal property, 141.3.b.2). other than an agricultural crop, is Farmers may protect from wildlife being destroyed or damaged (58 damage farm crops, fruit trees, veg- Code § 141.3.a.1). Only the owner etables, livestock, poultry, or beehives or person in charge of the property on any farmlands under their control. may take wildlife (58 Code § They may kill game for harming crops 141.3.a.2).b or livestock but must report the kill to a Wildlife Conservation Officer. For G Protection is removed from wildlife, except migratory birds, big game, further information on farmers' rights, and threatened or endangered refer to the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau species, when an animal is obviously publication entitled Farmers' Rights and sick or diseased and poses a threat to Obligations Pertaining to the Game and human, farm animal, or pet safety. Wildlife Code, or call your regional Only the owner or person in charge Game Commission office. of the property, when the threat exists, may take these animals. The wildlife must be taken in a safe, expeditious, and lawful manner and bTo take, as defined by the Game Commis- sion, means "to harass, pursue, hunt for, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, possess, or collect any game or wildlife, including shooting at a facsimile of game or wildlife or attempt to harass, pursue, hunt for, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect any game or wildlife." cSection 2125 states: "Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, the entire carcass, including the head and hide, of all big game animals and the entire carcass of any other game or wildlife, other than raccoons, shall be made available, unless otherwise directed by an officer of the commission, intact, less entrails, to any commission officer calling for them." Modifying Kill Live Other habitat Frightening Repellents Toxicants Fumigants trapping capture Shooting methods Bats X 0 X - - - X - X Beavers PGC X - - - PGC PGC PGC PGC Black bears X X X - - PGC PGC PGC X Blackbirds X X X PGC - PGC PGC PGC - Chipmunks X 0 X - - X X X - Deer X X X - - PGC PGC PGC PGC Field mice X 0 X X - X X 0 X Moles X X X X X X X 0 X Muskrats X 0 - - - X X PGC - Opossum X 0 - - - - X X - Rabbits X 0 X - - - X X X Raccoons X 0 - - - - X X - Shrews X 0 - - - X X 0 X Skunks X X - - X - X X X Snakes X 0 X - - - X X - House sparrows X X X X - X X X X Squirrels X 0 X - - X X X - Water fowl* X X X - - - PGC PGC PGC Voles X 0 X X X X X 0 - Woodchucks X X - - X - X X - Woodpeckers X X - - - PGC PGC PGC PGC * Ducks, geese, and swans Federally protected. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife permit is required in addition to the state permit before control measures can be taken. X = Practice is lawful. 0 = Practice is lawful in all cases but may not be effective. PGC-marked practices require authorization, permits, and/or the assistance of the Game Commission. Contact the Commission before using any of the PGC-marked methods. Note: The Pennsylvania Game Commission is responsible for managing birds and mammals, while the Fish and Boat Commission is responsible for managing fishes, reptiles, and amphibians. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences For Further Information Prepared by Cristin Conrad, extension research, extension, and resident education assistant, and Gary San Julian, profes- programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania Game Commission counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and sor of wildlife resources, in cooperation the U.S. Department of Agriculture. G Northwest, Franklin: with the Pennsylvania Game Commission (877) 877-0299 This publication is available from the Publications Illustrations by John Sidelinger Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania State G Southwest, Ligonier: University, 112 Agricultural Administration (877) 877-7137 Penn State College of Agricultural Building, University Park, PA 16802. For Sciences research, extension, and information telephone (814) 865-6713. G Northcentral, Jersey Shore: resident education programs are Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension (877) 877-7674 funded in part by Pennsylvania Work, Acts of Congress May 8 and June 30, 1914, counties, the Commonwealth of in cooperation with the U.S. Department of G Southcentral, Huntingdon: Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Legislature. T. R. Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Depart- (877) 877-9107 Alter, Director of Cooperative Extension, The ment of Agriculture. Pennsylvania State University. G Northeast, Dallas: (877) 877-9357 This publication is available in alterna- tive media on request. G Southeast, Reading: The Pennsylvania State University is committed to (877) 877-9470 the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment Fish and Boat Commission without regard to personal characteristics not (717) 705-7800 related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or Pennsylvania State Extension federal authorities. It is the policy of the University Specialist to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The (814) 863-0401 Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimina- tion and harassment against any person because of USDA Wildlife Services age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national (717) 728-0400 origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment Your county extension agent against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Willard Building, University Park, PA 16802-2801, Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY. © The Pennsylvania State University 2000 Rv5M12/00ps42030