1. A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, a landowner who wishes to control wildlife on the landowner’s property may do so only after obtaining a landowner wildlife damage control permit from USDA or a federal depredation permit for migratory birds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

2. B. A landowner wildlife damage control permit is not required for a landowner or the landowner's agent to control:

   1. (1) Game mammals or birds during legal hunting seasons with legal devices;
   2. (2) Deer under the authority of a deer management permit as described in COMAR 08.03.04.02;
   3. (3) Canada geese under the authority of COMAR 08.03.07.10;
   4. (4) Blackbirds and crows under the authority of COMAR 08.03.05.05;

   5. (5) Any of the following unprotected species:

      1. (a) Nutria;
      2. (b) Woodchuck;
      3. (c) Feral pigeon;
      4. (d) European starling; or
      5. (e) House sparrow; or

   6. (6) Any of the following species or species groups when causing damage or destroying the personal or real property of the landowner:

      1. (a) Mouse;
      2. (b) Mole;
      3. (c) Rat; or
      4. (d) Vole.
3. C. To obtain a landowner wildlife damage control permit, a person shall apply by telephone to USDA in Annapolis, Maryland, at 410-349-8055 or 1-877-463-6497.

4. D. Permit Issuance.

   1. (1) USDA shall evaluate the problem and determine if a control permit is appropriate to help resolve the problem.
   2. (2) Based on its evaluation, USDA may issue a permit to the landowner to control the wildlife.

5. E. Terms and Conditions. The permit shall specify:

   1. (1) The species of wildlife to be controlled;
   2. (2) The acceptable procedures for controlling the wildlife;
   3. (3) The disposition of the wildlife; and
   4. (4) The effective dates of the permit.
6. F. Foothold traps are legal if specifically allowed on the permit.

7. G. Duration.

   1. (1) Landowner permits expire after 2 months.
   2. (2) If the wildlife problem continues after the permit has expired, USDA may extend the permit for an additional period of 2 months.

Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§1-104, 10-205, and 10-908; State Government Article, §10-206; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: August 25, 2008 (35:17 Md. R. 1485)

Regulation .03A amended effective April 20, 2020 (47:8 Md. R. 435)

Regulation .04A amended effective November 30, 2009 (36:24 Md. R. 1857)

Regulation .24B amended effective March 17, 2014 (41:5 Md. R. 341)

Regulation .28E amended effective April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 569)

Regulation .28F adopted effective April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 569)