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Louisiana Wildlife Removal Laws

Last reviewed September 8, 2026 against LDWF published rules and federal statute. How we research this site.

Most sites that rank for wildlife removal say nothing about the law. It is the part that decides who may do the work, and (for bats and birds) when they may do it at all. Everything below is sourced to LDWF and federal statute.

Who is allowed to charge for this work

Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) permit, La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § V-127

Louisiana runs the most demanding regime of the states we cover. Every NWCO must carry a valid LDWF permit while working, and permits are issued to individuals only: each person doing the work needs one in their own name, so a company permit does not cover an unlicensed employee. Operators must be 18 or over, must hold both a valid Louisiana trapping licence and a valid Louisiana basic hunting licence while working, and must score at least 80 percent on the LDWF NWCO examination covering wildlife biology and behaviour, control methods, and the law. Permits run on a calendar year and must be renewed annually.

Bats

Bats may be controlled by exclusion, or by capture and relocation. Lethal methods are prohibited outright.

Bats are never exterminated. Removal is by one-way exclusion; how that works →

Federal law applies on top of this

Birds: the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Nearly every native North American bird is federally protected. Only three species commonly found in buildings are exempt: the pigeon (rock dove), the European starling and the house sparrow. An active nest containing eggs or young is protected regardless of species. That means a great many bird-in-the-vent jobs legally have to wait. More on bird removal →

Bats

Several bat species carry federal listings in addition to state protection, and maternity season restrictions exist to stop flightless pups being sealed inside a structure.

Doing it yourself

Nutria and beavers are treated differently. During daylight hours a landowner, or someone they designate, may remove nutria and beavers causing damage to their property without a special permit: nutria by any means, beavers by water-set traps or firearms. An LDWF trapping licence is needed to sell or pelt nuisance beavers or nutria taken during the open trapping season.

Questions

Do I need a permit to remove an animal from my own house in Louisiana?

Nutria and beavers are treated differently. During daylight hours a landowner, or someone they designate, may remove nutria and beavers causing damage to their property without a special permit: nutria by any means, beavers by water-set traps or firearms. An LDWF trapping licence is needed to sell or pelt nuisance beavers or nutria taken during the open trapping season.

Can a pest control company do this work?

Not always. Nuisance wildlife control is a separate licence from pesticide application, and protected species add further restrictions. Ask to see the wildlife permit specifically, not a general pest licence.

What happens if the work is done illegally?

It is the operator who carries the licence, but the homeowner commissioned the work. Penalties vary by state and species, and federal bird and bat protections apply on top of state law. This is a reason to check a licence rather than take a cheap quote.

Sources

• LDWF; Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Permit
• LDWF; Nuisance Wildlife Control and Removal
• LDWF; Nuisance Nutrias and Beavers
• La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § V-127; Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Program

Louisiana rules last checked against the above on September 8, 2026.