Working with nuisance wildlife in Arkansas

1. Working with nuisance wildlife in Arkansas Blake Sasse August 2013

2. AGFC Authority • Amendment 35 to the Arkansas Constitution gives the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission authority over “control, management, restoration, conservation and regulation of birds, fish, game and wildlife resources of the state….”.

3. What is “wildlife”? • AGFC Code 01.00C defines wildlife as: “All wild birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and other wild aquatic forms, and all other wild animals, regardless of classification, whether resident, migratory or imported, protected or unprotected, dead or alive, and shall extend to and include any and every part of any individual species of wildlife, including animals living in a captive state and which lack a genetic distinction from members of the same species living in the wild.”

4. What is “wildlife”? • Basically, if the animal is found in the wild anywhere in the world it is considered wildlife in Arkansas and the AGFC has authority over its control and management. • This includes rodents such as • house mice • Norway rat • black rats • And other animals such as bats or gophers and moles.

5. What about invertebrates? • AGFC does have some specific regulations regarding some invertebrates • American Burying Beetle is listed as endangered in AR • Regulate harvest of freshwater clams & many are listed as endangered in Arkansas • Crayfish are regulated in several different ways • Except for the animals listed above, AGFC does not currently consider invertebrates such as bees, termites, ants, etc. as protected species under our rules. Regulation of these is left to the AR Plant Board

6. Arkansas Plant Board Created by the Arkansas Legislature. • Arkansas Pest Control Law • Requires licensing for people performing pest control services including those dealing with rodents and other animal pests

7. Who do I need to deal with then? • In practical terms this means anyone doing animal control work may have to follow both AGFC and Plant Board rules while those doing insect control just need to follow Plant Board rules. • There are no applicable AGFC regulations regarding insect pest control, except for activities that may impact the American Burying Beetle (also federally endangered)

8. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Regulations

9. In General…. • Businesses do not need a special permit from AGFC to do nuisance wildlife control work • We do maintain a public referral list upon which businesses should ask to be placed • Businesses function under the same regulations as individuals in regards to what they can do • Depredation Permits are sometimes required for certain problems and they can be issued to individuals or businesses • The AGFC has been informally considering a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Permit requirement but has no proposals on the table at this time • This would probably not include businesses just doing mice and rat control

10. Game species: Any wild animal for which there is a hunting or trapping season (deer, raccoon, opossum, etc.) Nongame species: Any wild animal for which there isn’t an open hunting or trapping season.

11. Endangered Species: Listed by federal government or AGFC as endangered or threatened Migratory birds: Almost every wild bird in Arkansas. Birds found in Arkansas year-round may still be considered migratory species. Check US Fish and Wildlife Service web site for full list.

12. Terrestrial Wildlife and Bats

13. Live Capture • Inside city limits • Owners or their agents may capture nuisance terrestrial wildlife or bats alive so long as they are released outside the city within 24 hours. May be subject to local rules.

14. Live Capture • Outside City Limits • Nongame animals may be captured and released alive. No specific time limit but if held for very long may be subject to AGFC captive wildlife regulations. • Game animals may be live trapped and released during an open trapping season for that species without a Depredation Permit but a hunting license would be required • Exception: Live traps can be used on beaver, coyote, muskrat, nutria, opossum, raccoon, squirrel, and skunk year round without a permit or hunting license

15. Lethal Control • Nongame wildlife other than migratory birds or endangered species that pose a threat to persons or property can be shot during daylight hours or kill-trapped without a permit • Endangered species can only be killed if they are a direct threat to human life. • Nuisance game animals can be shot during regular hunting season or kill-trapped during trapping season without a permit in accordance with hunting regulations

16. Lethal Control – Depredation Permit • Depredation Permit necessary to shoot or kill-trap game animals outside of hunting or trapping seasons • Exception: Beaver, Coyote, Muskrat, Nutria, Opossum, Raccoon, Squirrel, and Striped Skunk can be shot during the day or kill-trapped year-round without a Depredation permit • Issued by AGFC Wildlife Officer or Biologist. Call nearest regional office • Usually issued to specific landowner • AGFC Chief of Wildlife Mgt. can issue permit to a company to be used on multiple client properties • Good for up to one year depending on request

17. Lethal Control – Depredation Permit • Control methods that may be authorized for Depredation Permits at officer discretion: • Use of any trapping method legal during trapping season • Use of body-gripping traps up to 10” inside buildings • Use of firearms, including at night • Often used specifically for armadillos • Use of cage-style live traps • Traps set in the outdoors must be marked in accordance with standard trap tagging requirements

18. Lethal Control • Poisons • Rodenticides may be used to control mice and rats at any time without a permit • Recommend that only be used in buildings to reduce chances that other wildlife may ingest • Chemicals or other poisons, including gas bombs, may not be used to kill any other wildlife including moles, gophers, or bats • Poisons that kill grubs as a way to reduce availability of food for moles are allowed

19. Alligators and Bears • AGFC does all nuisance alligator and bear control work in Arkansas

20. Deer • Most complaints are from urban and suburban homeowners • Not much that can be done • Urban archery deer hunts work in some areas • Deer causing crop damage in agricultural areas can be taken during hunting season or with a Depredation Permit

21. Birds

22. Migratory Birds • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has primary jurisdiction over migratory birds • Issues Depredation Permits based on recommendation of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • APHIS Arkansas Field Office: 501-835-2318 • APHIS can also assist in bird control work with their people • No Depredation Permit necessary to scare or herd migratory birds except endangered species and bald and golden eagles.

23. Non-migratory birds • AGFC rules would apply to any non-migratory birds that may be a nuisance (such as wild turkey) • Would need Depredation Permit to trap or kill game birds • English sparrows, blackbirds, starlings, and crows causing damage to crops or other personal property can be killed without a permit • Crows can also be killed during crow hunting season

24. Questions?