Am I in Any Legal Peril for Capturing a Squirrel?


Squirrels are one of the most common animals found in suburban and rural areas. These animals live in the hundreds of millions across the United States, and there are many out there who could do with a lot less of them. These are the kind of animals that get into garbage cans, gardens, even into homes. They can do a lot of damage, and become a gigantic nuisance.

On top of that, they are the carriers of a number of diseases. One has to worry that if they are bitten or scratched or even come in contact with the squirrel's feces or urine that they could be in peril. They could catch a serious disease or parasite. Squirrels even carry rabies, making them a dangerous animal to come in contact with.


So Trapping Isn't a Problem

For many, the most sensible solution is to capture a squirrel using a trap, then relocated somewhere else. They may be able to handle squirrels most often, but are finding that one or a small group of them is becoming too much to handle. They need them removed, but don't want to do anything lethal. This is why the trap makes perfect sense.

As they start to formulate their plan, they begin to wonder about whether it is legal to capture a squirrel. There are so many crazy laws out there that you just never know if you are going to be in some kind of legal peril by capturing a squirrel. So, the question is, is there any legal problem with trapping the squirrel?


The Abundance Removes the Concern

For the most part, there is really no issue with trapping squirrel at all. As mentioned before, there are millions of these animals in virtually every state of the country. They are everywhere. The loss of four or five trap and move somewhere else poses no legal problem at all.

In fact, in many areas squirrels are a delicacy. People eat them as a regular part of their daily meal routine. So, there would be no problem with you hunting, trapping, or killing squirrels.


When There Could Be an Exception

There may be an instance where you could find yourself in trouble. There are some species of squirrels that are reaching the point of being placed on the endangered list. There was a time when the gray squirrel was on that list, but it has since been removed off as numbers have increased.

However, there are still laws on the books related to protecting endangered species. You need to be concerned about these types of laws. Before you take any action, make sure that there is not any illegality related to trapping a squirrel in your area. This can easily be researched by contacting your local animal control agency or the District Attorney's Office. They should be other provide you with any information you need to know so you protect yourself. The last thing you want is to go to jail over a squirrel.



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