Is It Legal to Trap and Kill Raccoons in Maine [Guide]

Raccoons are the native mammals of North America. They are common in urban areas. However, they also make shelters in attics, chimneys, and buildings. Sometimes, this nuisance behavior provokes you to trap raccoons. Before doing anything, you must know: Is it legal to trap and kill raccoons in Maine?

Raccoons are clever and nuisance creatures. There are different ways to trap them but Maine has its law of trapping and hunting wildlife animals. This article will provide you with all the legal ways to trap or hunt a raccoon in Maine.

Is It Legal to Trap and Relocate Raccoons in Maine?

Yes, you can trap a raccoon easily, but you cannot relocate it without any professional raccoon removal service. You can set a live trap at any time to relocate raccoons. Raccoons are nuisance wildlife animals, it is necessary to trap them. However, In Maine, you must have a trapping license for lethal trapping to obey Maine trapping law.

Raccoons are dangerous to your health and property. They cause rabies and life-threatening diseases. They can destroy your home and buildings by making holes, ripping off soffits, and breaking cables. They can also harm your flowers and vegetables. To keep your property away from raccoons, you must have a trapping license.

Is It Legal to Hunt Raccoons in Maine?

Yes, you can hunt raccoons, but a hunting license is mandatory in Maine. You can hunt raccoons at night if you have a dog with you. You must follow the below guidelines before going raccoon hunting:

• According to hunter-ed, if you are a resident of Maine, you must have a hunting license to hunt a raccoon.
• If your land occupies more than 10 acres of space and you are a resident of Maine, you do not need a license to hunt a raccoon in your area.
• If you belong to an overseas community, you need a non-resident hunting license to hunt a raccoon in Maine.
• You must pay an annual fee for the continuation of your hunting license. This fee is different for residents and non-residents of Maine.

Laws Governing About Raccoon Trapping in Maine

In the United State, Maine is the easternmost state. Maine has forests on 80% of its land. Due to this enlarged forested area, raccoons are found abundantly in Maine. A wildlife animal management permit is required to trap any annoyance-creating wildlife or harming people outside the usual trapping season.

If a raccoon harms your crops and makes any nuisance, you must know the following laws and rules before trapping a raccoon in Maine.

• A 10-year-old Maine inhabitant can trap without a license, except a bear.
• Maine locals less than 16 years need a junior trapping license.
• Maine inhabitants above 16 years should have a resident trapping license.
• Non-residents of Maine should have a non-resident trapping license to trap a raccoon.

Laws Governing About Raccoon Shootings in Maine

If raccoons are attacking your property, you must first determine why, and then shoot them if required. Maine has trapping and shooting laws that you must obey while dealing with wildlife animals.

The most important steps that you must keep in mind are:

• You can shoot a raccoon during the hunting season only if you have a trapping license.
• During the hunting season, you must either have small game hunting or a trapping license to hunt a raccoon.
• During the off-season, you can trap a raccoon and immediately report it to a biologist or game warden.
• Maine residents and non-residents have the same rules for shooting raccoons as trapping.
• During the legal hunting period, you can use a gun, longbow, and bolt to shoot raccoons.

How Can You Trap Raccoons in Maine?

According to the Uconn library, raccoons have trap-prone behavior. That’s why you can trap a raccoon easily. If you have a trapping license, you can trap raccoons by following these tips from wildlife help organization:

• You can use a cage or box to trap a raccoon.
• Use a sturdy trap and place it on a level area that is free from items that a raccoon can grasp.
• Use a protective piece of plywood, when placing the cage traps on rooftops.
• Secure traps with strapping metal to prevent sliding off the roof.
• Raccoons like sweet corn and watermelons, so you can bait the trap with sweet corn to prevent non-targeting animals.
• Make sure the back of the trap is protected with mesh to stop raccoons from reaching the bait without entering the trap.
• After trapping a raccoon, you can call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for further procedures.

How Can You Shoot and Hunt Raccoons in Maine?

You cannot shoot or hunt a raccoon without abiding by the Maine hunting laws. For this, you must have a trapping or hunting license, after that, you can bring down raccoons with the help of wildlife rehabilitators. You can hunt and shoot the raccoon by following these tips:

• Mating season is the best time to hunt a raccoon if you own a trapping and hunting license.
• You can move out a raccoon from the attic or chimney with the help of tempting foods like sweet corn, marshmallow, etc.
• You can use a hunting dog with a sharp nose to catch the scent of a raccoon.
• If you are hunting raccoons to eliminate pests, use a large-caliber rifle to get the job done.

Raccoons are difficult to exterminate, but you can do it; by using the right hunting weapons and knowing how to entice them outside.

Conclusion

Raccoons are dangerous animals. They cause rabies and other life-threatening diseases in humans. It is inevitable to see destruction if the raccoons get inside your home. They can damage your property by tearing shingles, ripping out soffits, and chewing cables and pipes.

If you are worried about raccoons skulking around your home, the above guidelines will help you a lot. As a final word of advice, do not be in a hustle to catch raccoons, be patient and approach them appropriately to avoid further harm. Drop a comment below if you want to add more ideas for hunting and trapping raccoons. 

References

• Ucon Library
• Maine Hunting License