Connecticut | NWCTP

https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Nuisance-Wildlife/How-to-Become-a-NWCO

Regulatory Agency: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)

State Contact Information:

For information regarding NWCO training contact Jeff May, CT NWCO Association Training Coordinator, at 475-202-9283
For information on NWCO exams and licensing information, contact Chris Vann, CT DEEP Wildlife Division, at 860-424-3011 or chris.vann@ct.gov

License required and licensing information:

In order to obtain a license: an individual must attend an approved Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator’s training course, pass the DEEP NWCO licensing exam, and submit an application for a NWCO license

Link for Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator training class: https://www.ctnwcoa.com/

Link to application: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/wildlife/pdf_files/nwco/NWCOApppdf.pdf?la=en

Commercial NWCO licenses are issued for a two-year period for $250

A noncommercial NWCO license is no cost

License must be renewed in accordance with a schedule established by the commissioner

No license is required for such employees for the emergency control of rabies

Must keep a log at all times. A report must be submitted to the commissioner annually of NWCO’s activities by law and for license renewal. The log can be checked at any time by DEEP authorities

Laws to Read:

https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/connecticut/ct-laws/connecticut_statutes_26-47

Laws Regarding Permits to Take Wildlife Damaging Crops
(b) (1) No person shall engage in the business of controlling nuisance wildlife, other than rats or mice, without obtaining a license from the commissioner.
No person shall be licensed under this subsection unless the person: (A) Provides evidence, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the person has completed training which included instruction in site evaluation, methods of nonlethal and approved lethal resolution of common nuisance wildlife problems, techniques to prevent reoccurrence of such problems and humane capture, handling and euthanasia of nuisance wildlife and instruction in methods of nonlethal resolution of common nuisance wildlife problems, including, but not limited to, training regarding frightening devices, repellants, one-way door exclusion and other exclusion methods, habitat modification and live-trapping and releasing and other methods as the commissioner may deem appropriate; and (B) is a resident of this state or of a state that does not prohibit residents of this state from being licensed as nuisance wildlife control operators because of lack of residency.
A license held by a municipal employee shall be noncommercial, nontransferable and conditional upon municipal employment.

no person licensed under this subsection may kill any animal by any method which does not conform to the recommendations of the 1993 report of the American Veterinary Medical Association panel on euthanasia. No person may advertise any services relating to humane capture or relocation of wildlife unless all methods employed in such services conform to such regulations.

Different animals have different regulations on what may be used to dispatch the animal

Any person licensed under this subsection shall provide all clients with a written statement approved by the commissioner regarding approved lethal and nonlethal options, as provided in this subsection, which are available to the client for resolution of common nuisance problems. If a written statement cannot be delivered to the client prior to services being rendered, the licensee shall leave the statement at the job site or other location arranged with the client.
(6) Each person licensed under this subsection shall submit a report to the commissioner, on such date as the commissioner may determine, that specifies the means utilized in each case of nuisance wildlife control service provided in the preceding calendar year including any method used in those cases where an animal was killed.
Any person who violates any provision of this section, or any condition under which a permit or license is issued, shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor; and any permit or license issued to such person, and all other such permits or licenses issued to any other person for such property, shall be revoked by the commissioner and the right to obtain such permit or license shall remain suspended for such period of time as the commissioner determines.

(d) Any permit or license issued under this section shall not authorize the taking of deer.

White-tail deer problems cannot be controlled under a NWCO license

Town employees, such as Animal Control Officers (ACO), are also required to obtain a NWCO license if they provide wildlife control services as part of their duties for town residents.

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1035&context=ewdcc3

NWCO license applicants must be at least 18 years old and free of any outstanding hunting or trapping violations

One may take the Trapper Education Course, upon completing it, they can be sent a manual and take the NWCO exam and buy a license for $50.00 that is valid for one year
Nuisance species not in this table must be referred to Wildlife Biologist for review
Raccoon, Opossum, Striped skunk, Weasel, Rabbit, Snowshoe hare, European hare, Woodchuck, Chipmunk, Red squirrel, Gray squirrel, Porcupine, House sparrow, Pigeon, Starling, Snapping turtle, Bats, Moles, and Snakes (exceptions: black rat snack and timber rattlesnake)

Regarding Rabies:

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/wildlife/pdf_files/nwco/NWCObrochurepdf.pdf?la=en

NWCOs must provide clients written notification options, nonlethal and lethal, for resolving common nuisance wildlife problems
Relocation of rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, and fox) is prohibited under Connecticut General Statutes Section 26-47(b) and 26-57
Lethal trapping: smooth wire traps may be used. Must be tagged with trapper’s name and checked daily
Shooting: permitted in compliance with all state or municipal firearms restrictions. NWCOs must be certified as completing the DEEP Conservation Education/Firearms Safety (CE/FS) firearms course

Link for Firearms Safety Course: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Hunting/CEFS/CEFS-Firearms-Hunting-Safety-Courses

rabies-vector species and Connecticut regulations require that, if live-trapped, it cannot be relocated and released; it must be euthanized. The only exception is that the animal may be released on the property from which it was trapped.

Laws and Regulations Regarding Translocation of Species

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/downloads/nepa/2015%20EA%20Mammal%20Damage%20Management%20in%20the%20State%20of%20Connecticut.pdf

https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Nuisance-Wildlife/Problems-with-Raccoons

Translocation of all mammals is currently prohibited by CT DEEP regulations, without prior approval of the CT DEEP. Translocation sites would be identified and have to be pre-approved by the CT DEEP and the property owner where the translocated mammals would be placed prior to live-capture and translocation

Raccoons that cannot be released on-site must be humanely killed by either shooting, CO2 euthanasia, or lethal injection by a licensed veterinarian. Any person planning to dispatch raccoons by shooting as a method of euthanasia should be knowledgeable of all state and municipal firearms laws and trained in the safe use and handling of firearms.

Trap Tags:

Traps must have legal name written legibly on all traps

Check all the traps within a 24-hour period

Trapping License:

Not required

Hunting License:

Firearms license required