Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Region IV - Wildlife Damage Control
This webpage will serve as a guide to solving your problems with wildlife in a legal, responsible, and ethical manner.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) receives thousands of calls each year regarding human / wildlife conflicts. Due to lack of both funds and personnel, we simply are unable to conduct the business of wildlife damage control work. However, TWRA does give technical assistance to homeowners concerning problems with wildlife.
In our vast experience through years of addressing nuisance wildlife either by telephone and/or onsite visits, we have learned that most problems can be addressed by education and using non-lethal control methods (e.g., modification of habitat, proper garbage management and storage, feeding pets inside, and ect.). However, if there is a need for lethal control of wildlife, there are a number of Wildlife Damage Control Operators licensed by TWRA throughout the state that are in the business of providing homeowners with wildlife control and management solutions to their problems.
Wildlife Damage Management Information
The first step to solving your problems with wildlife is to make yourself knowledgeable of your wildlife problem. Two recommended nonprofit websites for providing valuable information for solving problems with wildlife are The Internet Center for Widllife Damage Management (www.icwdm.org) and Wildlife Management Information (www.wildlifemanagement.info). If you are not internet connected, then give us a call at the office and we gladly will help you.
Live Trapping
Live trapping nuisance wildlife and relocating those animals to other areas is not only illegal but also is not recommended. Tennessee state law (TCA 70-4-401) states it is unlawful for any person to possess and/or transport wildlife in the state. Additionally, you must obtain a Big Game Damage Control Permit Form from your local county wildlife officer before killing any nuisance big game animal (i.e., black bear, white-tailed deer, elk, wild turkey, and wild hogs) outside of the hunting season. Importantly, a damage control permit for small game animals causing property damage is not required. Small game animals causing property damage can be destroyed at any time. Remember, all live trapped nuisance wildlife must be destroyed onsite and not transported and released in other areas.
Migratory Birds
Migratory birds (e.g., Canada geese, vultures, and woodpeckers) are all protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treat Act. Penalties may range as high as a $500 fine and six months in jail for killing a woodpecker. Before you can get a permit to destroy offending animals, you must show that you have exhausted recommended control measures and that they have not been effective. You can get technical assistance with migratory bird problems and help applying for a federal permit permit from the Wildlife Services with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) (www.aphis.usda.gov/ws) by calling their local number at 865-588-0299.
Rabies
The USDA wildlife services should be notified of any suspected rabid wildlife cases within the Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) baiting/surveillance zone (TN ORV Map). When exposure has not occurred, the USDA Wildlife Service may pick up suspected rabid wildlife carcasses for rabies diagnostic testing. For any wildlife rabies-related questions or concerns, please contact Wildlife Services at 865-588-0299.
If human exposure from a suspected rabid animal has occurred, the local County Health Department should be notified and that person should seek immediate medical attention. If the suspected animal remains on the scene and is killed or captured, then that animal must be submitted to the Health Department for testing. Tennessee Health Department will not test potentially rabid animals unless exposure has occurred.
Tips to protect the public from rabies include:
• Vaccinate all domestic animals from rabies,
• Do not approach any wild animal; observe animals/wildlife from a distance,
• Do not attempt to handle or capture sick or orphaned wildlife,
• Do not feed wild animals,
• Properly store and dispose of garbage,
• Keep cooking grills cleaned and stored inside when not in use,
• Do not feed domestic animals outside,
• Cap chimneys with screens, seal all openings in attics, basements, porches, sheds, and/or barns,
• Do not add food waste to compost piles, and
• Keep pets away from all suspected rabid animals.
