Injured or Orphaned
Wildlife
Generally if you find a baby animal it is best to leave it
alone. Often the animal is not orphaned, and the parent may be out
getting food for the animal, or watching the baby. Never pick up
baby animals and remove them from their natural
environment! To report an injured or orphaned wild
animal, contact any of the FWC's 5 regional
offices for a list of wildlife rehabilitators or consult one of
the rehabilitators on this list.
Additional information about reporting injured manatees or sea
turtles is on our website.
Nuisance Animals
Nuisance wildlife is wildlife that...
- causes (or is about to cause) property damage,
- presents a threat to public safety, or
- causes an annoyance within, under or upon a building.
Human activities can attract certain wildlife species looking
for an easy high-calorie meal or shelter under a convenient
structure. Unfortunately this can bring them into conflict with the
interests of people, and the wildlife can be considered to be a
nuisance. Most wildlife/human conflicts can be resolved by
removing the attractant. If removing the attractant is not
feasible or has been tried and is not working, other measures to
remove nuisance wild animals can be taken. Trapping a nuisance
animal should be a matter of last resort. Before removing an
animal, please read the
nuisance wildlife regulations and information.
Wildlife that cannot be
taken
The taking of nuisance alligators;
deer; bears;
bats, bobcats, most
migratory birds, their nests or eggs;
turkeys; bobwhite quail; or
state-listed or federally listed species of special
concern, threatened or endangered species is prohibited or
may require additional permits.
Protected and regulated species
You can learn more about the rules regarding wild animals
online. Most regulations for wildlife are found in Ch. 68A of the Florida Administrative Code.
Nuisance Alligators
Alligators are considered a nuisance when they are more than
four feet in length, and are determined to be a threat to the
welfare of the public, or the public's pets, livestock, or
property. Only a licensed nuisance alligator trapper may capture or
remove an alligator. More information about living with
alligators is available on this website.
If you need to report a nuisance alligator, call toll-free,
866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
You can find more information about Nuisance
Alligators online.
Nuisance Bear
If a bear is seen around your neighborhood, it is important to
immediately discourage repeat visits. What you can do is determine
if there are any attractants in your neighborhood that will cause
the bear to return. If you have unsecured garbage, pet food,
barbecue grills, or other food items available in your yard, you
should secure those items as soon as possible. A nuisance bear
is one that looks for handouts, hangs around because it thinks food
is available, or becomes aggressive, etc. More information
about living with bears is available on this
website. If you have a nuisance bear in your neighborhood or on
your property, please contact your local FWC regional
office or call the Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC
(3922).
Nuisance Deer
White-tailed deer
will occasionally cause damage to cultivated crops. For small
gardens, this situation often can be improved by installing an
inexpensive electric fence. When it is not possible to
install an electric fence or deterrent fence, and under special
restrictions, deer causing damage to crops can be harassed (scared)
with a gun and light at night, when authorized. Find out more
information on the Gun and Light at Night Permit.
In cases where a Gun and Light at Night Permit is not
eliminating the depredation or is not feasible, and in situations
where deer are causing extreme damage to a crop, contact your local
FWC regional
office to request a Depredating Deer permit for temporary
relief.
Protected Fish and
Wildlife
A FWC permit is required for take of any state listed species. Protected fish and
wildlife include those species listed as endangered, threatened or
species of special concern. FWC rules prohibit activities that
may have a negative effect on protected fish and wildlife without a
permit. More information about
living with
wildlife is available on this website.
Rabid Animals
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is agency
primarily responsible for rabies response, prevention, treatment
and control. If you suspect an animal of having rabies
or if someone has been bitten, contact the local County Health
Department. Public health staff will investigate animal bite
reports. The DOH
can request help from the Sheriff's office, Animal Control or the
FWC, but their staff will make that decision. View the listing of
Florida County Health Departments at www.doh.state.fl.us/chdsitelist.htm.
For more information about rabies control and prevention in
Florida, visit the DOH on the Web at: www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/rabies/rabies-index.html.
Migratory Bird and Waterfowl
Problems
In the spring, bird species around the state start to build
nests. Occasionally, this nesting behavior comes into conflict with
human activities. Nuisance bird issues are not as easy to mitigate
as nuisance mammal issues. Most birds are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Joint
state-federal permits are issued under very limited circumstances
to keep or remove native wild birds or their eggs or nests. For
information on Migratory Bird and Eagle Permits, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
For more information contact the FWC's Division of Habitat &
Species Conservation, Species Conservation and Planning Section.
Often, nesting birds will
use the nest for only a month or so before their young are ready to
go. It is usually advisable to leave these birds alone until they
are done with their nesting cycle.
Migratory nongame birds that cause damage to trees, crops,
livestock or wildlife, or that are concentrated in such numbers
that they are nuisance, may be taken with permits issued by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by calling 404-679-7070.
Blackbirds, grackles, cowbirds and crows can be taken without
permits when they are causing damage.
You can find a comprehensive list of birds protected under the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).
Information about dealing with problem ducks or geese is available
on our waterfowl website.
If you are experiencing a problem with roosting vultures, please
contact USDA Wildlife Services APHIS Wildlife at
352-377-5556 or toll free at 866-487-3297 for assistance in scaring
off the birds.
Dealing with Aggressive Raptors
Birds of prey, also called raptors, include hawks, eagles,
falcons and owls. Each spring and summer, the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) receives reports of raptors
diving at people. These incidents, which are usually caused by
hawks, have happened in both urban and suburban areas. Most of
these events occur during the nesting season and near an active
nest where there are chicks or eggs. The raptors dive at
people who come too close to the nest. The birds view those people
as threats to the nest and the babies. In many cases, the
birds dive at people but don't make contact. However, there have
been injuries from these birds when they do make contact. Reports
show that the birds may dive at people as far as 150 feet away from
their nests.
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