No single agency or organization has been granted legal authority or assumed complete responsibility to respond to the management needs pertaining to problematic wildlife in Virginia. This can make it difficult to understand the responsibilities of different agencies and organizations, and thus who to contact to help achieve resolution for a wildlife issue. Please refer to the information below to learn more about these divided responsibilities, or use our online tool to help you decide which organization or agency is most likely able to deal with your issue.
- The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is the agency charged with legal authority over non-migratory game and non-game species of wildlife in the Commonwealth. The agency’s stated viewpoint of their responsibilities related to wildlife conflicts, as they are defined in the Code of Virginia, is that the agency will:
- 1) where appropriate, let nature take its course,
- 2) establish season and bag limits for species under their control that are realistic and attempt to achieve balance between protecting sustainable population growth and minimizing conflicts,
- 3) issue “take” permits on a case by case basis,
- 4) assist municipalities in managing problematic wildlife (as promulgated in legislation such as House Bill 54), and
- 5) establish a program to register and certify commercial nuisance wildlife control operators.
- For the contact information for the VDGIF office near you please click on the link.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services Division, provides technical on- site assistance with problem wildlife, as allowed under existing federal policy, to state and local governments, private commercial enterprises, and private landowners. This agency also provides assistance to federal agencies to help control and prevent disease caused or carried by wildlife.
- The U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has legal authority over migratory game and non-game species and federally-listed threatened or endangered animals.
- Local Governments and Municipalities, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, can develop and implement set management practices that comply with regulation.
- County and City Animal Control Officers possess authority to respond to and exercise control in situations involving domestic and/or companion animals.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension has no legal authority or a mandate to perform on-site control operations; the mission of Extension is to provide educational and professional training programs and to develop and disseminate educational resource materials to state government, local municipalities, and private citizens of the Commonwealth.
- Private/commercial businesses have no legal authority to set policy or regulation, but do implement control practices, as allowed by existing law. For a list of certified operators that are in your county, please follow the link for a listing.