Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 800 - Department of Wildlife Conservation › Chapter 25 - Wildlife Rules › Subchapter 37 - Nuisance Wildlife Control Program › Part 1 - NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL OPERATORS PROGRAM › Section 800:25-37-5 - Procedures and guidelines

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
The following regulations for a NWCO permit shall be in
					 effect to establish what species of wildlife may be taken under such a permit,
					 the legal methods that may be used to control nuisance wildlife under such a
					 permit, and the legal methods of disposal of nuisance wildlife under such
					 permit.
(1) NWCO Permittees are only
				  authorized to trap and relocate or euthanize the following wildlife species
				  when such action is warranted by a valid nuisance wildlife complaint including,
				  but not limited to: armadillo, badger, bats, beaver, bobcat, coyote,
				  jackrabbit, cottontail rabbit, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, red fox, gray fox,
				  porcupine, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, raccoon, river otter, snakes,
				  striped skunk, and weasel.
(2)
				  Problems and complaints concerning deer, elk, turkey, bear, alligator,
				  antelope, mountain lion, big horn sheep, endangered or threatened species and
				  game birds will only be handled when specifically authorized in writing by the
				  Director of the ODWC.
(3) The sale,
				  trade, barter, gifting, or retention of any wildlife, or parts thereof, except
				  coyotes and beavers, taken under authority of a NWCO permit is prohibited,
				  except wildlife legally taken during established trapping seasons and in
				  accordance with all other pertinent rules and laws not associated with NWCO
				  rules may be sold or otherwise disposed of as provided by law.
(4) The sale, trade, barter, gifting or
				  retention of beavers, coyotes, or parts thereof, taken under authority of a
				  NWCO permitted is allowed with the proper documentation containing the taker's
				  name and permit number.
(5) NWCO
				  permittees must follow all state and federal laws that apply to the taking of
				  wildlife with the exception of season dates and bag limits except as otherwise
				  provided in this section.
(6) Only
				  damage or nuisance complaints affecting humans and/or their property may be
				  controlled. Complaints involving conflicts between two or more wildlife species
				  are not valid nuisance wildlife complaints.
(7) All wildlife taken under a NWCO permit
				  shall be taken and disposed of in a manner to ensure safe and effective
				  handling and/or euthanasia. Euthanasia of a captured animal is to be performed
				  under the guidelines adopted by the American Veterinary Medicine
				  Association.
(8) Traps and other
				  similar devices set by a NWCO shall be checked at least once every 24 hours and
				  all animals removed. Traps must have the Operators name and NWCO permit number
				  attached.
(9) The following are
				  legal methods of control under a NWCO permit:
(A) box or live trap;
(B) smooth-jawed single spring or double
				  springup to four coil offset steel leg-hold traps with a jaw spread of no more
				  than eightand one half inches;
(C)
				  body gripping style traps less than size 330, except size 330 may be used for
				  water sets for beavers only;
(D)
				  shooting where permitted by law or by city ordinance;
(E) snares which shall have a locking device
				  that prevents the loop from closing to a circumference less than ten (10)
				  inches if the snare is set on or just above ground level. If the snare is set
				  in an attic or similar situation there is no loop restriction; and
(F) enclosed trigger traps.