Finding unexpected creatures in your home or garden can be unnerving. However, some of these animals play crucial roles in the ecosystem, are endangered, or have protected status. Removing them could lead to legal issues. Let’s look at 12 common protected species that might make themselves at home in your space.
Barn Owls
Barn owls, with their heart-shaped faces and silent flight, are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the US. They’re great at controlling rodent populations, which is why farmers love them. Sadly, their numbers are dropping due to habitat loss and human interference. If you find barn owls nesting in your home or garden, disturbing or harming them without a permit is illegal. For help with the relocation or removal of barn owls, you must contact local wildlife control or a licensed bird rehabilitation center.
Honeybees
Honeybees are pollinators, crucial for maintaining biodiversity and supporting agricultural production. Their numbers have declined, prompting federal and state protections, including specific laws in some states. Removing honeybee colonies without proper authorization is dangerous and likely illegal. It is best to contact a licensed beekeeper or pest control service for safe relocation. Gardeners can help by maintaining bee-friendly environments with diverse flora and avoiding harmful pesticides.
Beetles
Beetles help the ecosystems with pollination and decomposing organic matter. However, many beetle species are in decline due to habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and disease. Seventeen beetle species are listed as threatened or endangered under the US Endangered Species Act. It’s illegal to harm or remove protected beetle species like the American burying beetle without proper identification and authorization. For advice on handling protected beetles, contact local wildlife or environmental agencies. You can help by planting native flora and avoiding pesticides.
Badgers
American badgers, with their distinctive black-and-white striped faces, fluffy tails, and strong digging claws, are protected under various state laws and wildlife statutes. These nocturnal omnivores control insect and small mammal populations and enhance soil health through burrowing activities. Found across North America, they can sometimes wander into gardens, causing damage to lawns and flower beds in their search for food. However, harming, disturbing, or removing badgers without proper authorization is illegal. To deter them, block access to food sources and shelter.
Salamanders
Salamanders control insect populations and maintain healthy soil ecosystems. Many species are protected under various state regulations and the Endangered Species Act due to declining numbers caused by habitat destruction and pollution. It is illegal to capture or remove them without proper permits. Gardeners can support salamander populations by preserving moist habitats, maintaining leaf litter, and avoiding chemical pesticides, thus creating salamander-friendly environments.
Painted Turtles
Painted Turtles are found from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Their range includes much of southern Canada, the United States, and parts of Mexico. They thrive in fresh waters with soft bottoms and basking sites. Painted turtles are crucial for aquatic ecosystem health, helping control insect populations and aiding nutrient cycling. These turtles face threats from habitat loss, wetland drying, and shoreline clearing. Since they are protected under various state wildlife laws, capturing or removing them without permits is illegal. Gardeners can support them by maintaining healthy water features, providing basking areas, and ensuring clean water conditions.
Raccoons
While raccoons may seem adorable with their masked faces, they can quickly become a nuisance, especially when they decide to make your home or garden their own. Most US states classify raccoons as “protected furbearers” under wildlife laws. So, it is illegal to harm or remove them without proper authorization. Homeowners should deter raccoons by securing trash cans, avoiding outdoor pet feeding, and ensuring buildings are sealed. For legal removal, always contact a licensed wildlife control professional.
Foxes
Foxes, especially red foxes, are pretty adaptable and do a great job keeping small mammals and insect populations in check, which helps maintain the ecosystem balance. Due to their ecological importance, foxes are protected under state wildlife laws. If you need to remove one, you’ll need to call in a licensed wildlife control professional, and in many places, you’ll also need a permit from the state wildlife agencies. To keep foxes away from your property, try using humane deterrents and making some habitat changes. This way, you can live peacefully alongside these helpful critters.
Snakes
Snakes can be an intimidating sight. Found in diverse habitats like forests, deserts, and woodlands, they often wander into gardens. If you encounter a snake, keep your distance and let it leave alone. In the US, snakes are protected as “nongame wildlife” in most states, making it illegal to harm or disturb them unless they pose an immediate danger. If a snake problem arises, contact a professional rather than attempting to handle it yourself, as many snakes are venomous. Use scents like cinnamon, onion, garlic, and lime to deter snakes.
Eastern Gray Squirrels
Eastern Gray Squirrels are common in American gardens, aiding in seed dispersal and tree propagation. While not universally protected, many states regulate their removal to maintain ecological balance. The western gray squirrel is endangered in Washington State due to wildfires. Regulations on squirrel removal vary, with some states requiring permits. Squirrels can damage lawns and plant beds and may require repellents or professional pest control if they become problematic. Always check local laws before attempting removal to ensure compliance with wildlife protection regulations.
Opossums
Opossums commonly inhabit forests and swamps, easily identified by their distinctive pointed snouts, rounded bodies, and nearly hairless, prehensile tails. However, these adaptable creatures have also made their way into urban areas, often scavenging for food in garbage bins. People usually see opossums as a nuisance, yet they are helpful in controlling pests and maintaining ecological balance. Although not federally protected, they may be protected under state and local regulations. So, seek the services of licensed wildlife professionals for opossum removal. You can deter opossums by securing trash bins and using safe repellents such as peppermint oil or cayenne pepper.
Bats
Bats are fascinating creatures with excellent vision and echolocation abilities. They roost in quiet, dark spaces, sometimes causing issues in attics and outbuildings. Bats, especially Northern long-eared bats, are protected under laws like the Endangered Species Act in the US due to their critical role in insect control and pollination. Many bat species face threats from habitat destruction and diseases like white-nose syndrome. If bats nest on your property, ensure exit points remain unblocked and seek advice from local conservation authorities.