In Virginia, a Commercial Nuisance Animal Permit is needed to operate a nuisance wildlife control business in Virginia.
- This permit requires the completion of a training course, and does not permit the killing, trapping or possession of State or Federally Threatened or Endangered Species, Federally Protected Migratory Birds, Black Bear, White-tailed Deer, or Wild Turkey.
A Pesticide Applicator’s License my be needed by commercial or private operators to apply certain pesticides on their or other’s properties. For more information see the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Office of Pesticide Services website (https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticide-applicator-certification.shtml) for more information about pesticide permits and training.
In Virginia, an Animal Population Control Permit is needed to trap or shoot mid-sized mammalian predators (red and gray fox, raccoon, opossum and striped skunk) after the legal trapping and hunting seasons have closed.
- This permit will only be issued after a wildlife habitat management plan has been implemented on the acreage for at least three years, and if the applicant has attempted predator control during legal seasons for at least two years.
If you are experiencing deer or bear damage to your commercial crops or residential plants you may be able to have a Kill Permit issued, for more information please contact VDGIF Dispatch at (804) 367-1000, Monday–Friday, during business hours.
- If you would like to discuss non-lethal options for damage control, please contact a Wildlife Bureau Terrestrial biologist at the regional office that serves your locality.
- Nuisance species do not require a kill permit for landowners who kill them on their land during a closed season, species that are currently classified as nuisance species in Virginia are: coyotes, beaver, groundhogs, feral hogs, I AM UNSURE WHICH OTHERS ARE CLASSIFIED HERE AND HOW THIS WORKS WITH POP CONTROL PERMIT. However, contact the Commonwealth Attorney’s office in your county/city for information regarding legal methods of animal removal. Local ordinances are usually more restrictive than state laws. Additionally, there may be restrictions on hunting certain species on Sundays, please refer to the VDGIF Hunting Regulations to clarify the applicability of these regulations.