Home/Alabama Law
Alabama Wildlife Removal Laws
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 Alabama WFF and federal statute.
https://www.outdooralabama.com/nuisance-animal-control/permitted-nuisance-wildlife-control-operators
Nothing here is legal advice. Wildlife law changes and enforcement varies, so confirm anything that affects a permit or a prosecution with your state wildlife agency.
Who is allowed to charge for this work
Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator permit
Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators are permitted by the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries to remove nuisance wildlife at the landowner or tenant's expense. Alabama game and fish regulation 220-2-.27 provides for permits to take protected wildlife causing crop damage, property damage, or raising concern for human safety.
Bats
Bats are protected under both federal and Alabama state law. Removal is by exclusion only (one-way valves) never trapping or killing.
| Restriction | Dates | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusion avoided during maternity season | reported as roughly May – July | Flightless pups are present. Excluding the mothers leaves the young to starve, which creates an odour problem and draws insects into the attic. Confirm exact dates with Alabama WFF. |
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
Worth knowing: the Division states that it has no regulatory authority over permitted operators beyond permitting them to take protected wildlife, and does not guarantee quality of service, although it makes reasonable efforts to keep disreputable operators out of the permitting process. In other words, the permit proves legality, not competence: check references separately.
Somebody has to look at the property to answer that. How many entry points or burrows there are, how hard they are to get at, and whether young are present is what sets the price, and none of it can be judged from a description. Send us your address and we will pass it to a licensed local operator where one is available. Request a quote →
Questions
Do I need a permit to remove an animal from my own house in Alabama?
Worth knowing: the Division states that it has no regulatory authority over permitted operators beyond permitting them to take protected wildlife, and does not guarantee quality of service, although it makes reasonable efforts to keep disreputable operators out of the permitting process. In other words, the permit proves legality, not competence: check references separately.
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
- Outdoor Alabama; Permitted Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators
- Outdoor Alabama; Alabama Nuisance Animal Control
Request a quote
We read every request and pass it to a licensed wildlife operator covering Tuscaloosa where one is available. We are still building our list of operators here, so we cannot promise one is available or say how quickly they will respond.