In Virginia, there are a many wildlife species that can potentially contribute to a human-wildlife conflict, however there are some that are more conflict prone than others. Knowing more about a species’ habits, life history, diseases and conservation status can help with the resolution of conflicts by helping people understand the cause of the problem and which management strategies are likely to achieve their desired outcomes. We have provided additional information about some species that are commonly associated with conflicts:
Mammals
- Bats (Chiroptera)
- Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
- American Beaver (Castor canadensis)
- White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
- Mole (Scalopus aquaticus, Parascalops breweri)
- Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
- Skunk (Striped-Mephitis mephitis; Spotted-Spilogale putorius)
- Vole (Microtus spp., Clethrionomys spp.)
Birds
- Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
- Vultures (Turkey-Cathartes aura; Black-Coragyps atratus)
- Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Reptiles and Amphibians
- Venomous Snakes
Nuisance Species
In Virginia, some animal species are designated as nuisance species. The goal of nuisance wildlife management is to keep numbers of these animals as low as possible. These animals receive few legal protections or harvest regulations. Virginia law allows the taking of all nuisance species at any time, however, a landowner should use lethal alternatives after all other non-lethal controls have been exhausted. Lethal control may only serve as a short-term fix if the underlying issue is not addressed.
Mammals
- Coyote (Canis latrans)
- Feral Hog (Sus scrofa)
- Groundhog/Woodchuck (Marmota monax)
- Nutria (Myocastor coypus)
- House Mouse (Mus musculus)
- Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
- Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Birds