Raccoons are active mammals that often roam around your living vicinity. They do not cause us any harm directly, but their presence can be troublesome in different ways. There are laws regarding capturing raccoons in every state but is it legal to trap and kill Raccoons in Ohio?
Yes, it is legal to trap and kill Raccoons in Ohio but only under certain conditions. It is permissible to capture and shoot sick, wounded, or unwelcome raccoons on your territory in Ohio. Trapping and moving animals are prohibited.
In this article, we will read about a few Ohio laws regarding the trapping of raccoons. Moreover, we will also look at all the rules that allow one to kill a raccoon in Ohio. It is only permissible under certain conditions.
Is It Legal to Trap and Relocate Raccoons in Ohio?
It is against the law to capture raccoons that are a nuisance in Ohio without either killing the animal or returning it to the land where it was captured. If you hold a commercial nuisance wildlife control operator’s license and are in Ohio, capturing or taking live nuisance wildlife animals is legal.
However, if you don’t have a license, it’s illegal to capture or take a nuisance animal, and even if you do, some requirements must be satisfied. To stop the spread of raccoon diseases, all live caught raccoons in Ohio must either be transferred back onto the homeowner’s property or killed humanely.
A raccoon infestation in the state is imminent. Therefore, any raccoon introduced to a new region will probably drive out those already residing there, according to ODNR. They might also infect other raccoons with an illness that would decimate an entire colony.
Is It Legal to Hunt Raccoons in Ohio?
Raccoons that are not sick, hurt, or a nuisance cannot be hunted or trapped unless it is legal to do so during their hunting season. A hunting or trapping license is necessary to go after raccoons during a hunting season.
Licensed nuisance wild animal trappers or other people may kill raccoons that are causing damage but cannot be live trapped due to unavoidable circumstances only after such trappers or other people request for and get written authorization from the chief of the wildlife division.
Nuisance raccoons are to be put to death if causing harm to property, personnel, or area. During raccoon hunting season, there is no possession or bag limit. Moreover, licensed operators can get rid of them professionally so that there are minimal chances of disease spread.
Laws Governing About Raccoons Trapping in Ohio
Raccoons that are a nuisance or sick may be captured without permission, but it is against the law to live trap and move them to another location. All live-trapped raccoons in Ohio must be released back onto the landlord’s territory or killed humanely.
Any live nuisance wild animal trapped or removed for removal in compliance with this rule’s paragraph (A) by a person who is not a licensed commercial nuisance wild animal control worker is prohibited from being sold, used, or given to another person.
Possession of such trapped or taken nuisance wild animals for a period longer than twenty-four hours from the moment of capture is prohibited for anybody who is not licensed. It is forbidden to capture or seize wild animals that are a nuisance but whose injuries interfere with their normal physiological or biological processes without also euthanizing them.
Laws Governing About Raccoon Shootings in Ohio
The owner, an employee, or a renter of the land may kill or trap a raccoon if it is causing harm to domestic animals or crops on the property. State hunting rules protect raccoons since they have fur, but you are still permitted to catch pesky animals on your premises.
Homeowners can catch pesky raccoons at any time, unlike hunters who are constrained by seasons and must obtain a license. Raccoons are not subjected to bag or possession restrictions and limits.
Any nuisance raccoon must be put to death or released on the property, whichever occurs first. However, you cannot shoot a raccoon that is not a nuisance, diseased, or a threat to property or personnel. Hunting season for raccoons allows shooting raccoons.
How Can You Trap Raccoons in Ohio State?
Although raccoons are simple to capture in a trap, they can be trapped in the following ways.
- Trap them if It is permissible to trap Raccoons by using traps.
- Cages and box traps are typically preferred in urban areas over foothold traps. Raccoon box traps and cages need to be at least 10 x 12 x 32 inches in size and made of durable materials.
- To decrease captures of unintended prey, bait traps with tasty foods.
- A catchpole, gloves, hand net, cat grasper, and a raccoon-sized box trap or cage are the tools needed for trapping Raccoons.
To ensure the safety of any possible nearby baby raccoons, the first job is to investigate the entire region thoroughly. Raccoons frequently burrow and grasp at objects, making trapping more difficult. The traps must be kept under observation for activity while they are set.
How Can You Shoot and Hunt Raccoons in Ohio?
Raccoons in good health are rarely observed during the day due to their nocturnal lifestyle. They can be hunted and shot in the following ways:
- With the proper lighting, raccoons may be shot at night, and they can be trapped by trained dogs.
- If shots are only fired at the head, treed raccoons can be killed with a. 22-caliber rifle. If using a shotgun is permitted, use the No. 6 shot instead.
- In most cities and towns, shooting is not permitted. Before employing any lethal raccoon control measures, consult with state and municipal authorities.
- The most typical way of discovering coons in the past has been coon hunting with dogs, but with the advent of coon hunting lights, nighttime coon hunting has become increasingly successful.
- A dog’s sense of smell cannot detect some of the greatest coon hunting lights, and the coons are not even startled by them.
Wrapping it up
Killing raccoons that are a nuisance to the community is legal in Ohio. However, it is illegal to relocate raccoons in the area as they can contract rabies. Hunting and trapping laws are applicable and vary depending on the circumstances. It is advisable to get rid of raccoons professionally to minimize contamination.
A licensed person is allowed to kill raccoons if they mean to cause you harm. You can always report the authorities and have them come over to look at your raccoon problem.
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