(a) When it is shown to the satisfaction of the commissioner that wildlife is causing unreasonable damage to agricultural crops during the night and it is found by the commissioner that control of such damage by wildlife is impracticable during the daylight hours, the commissioner may issue permits for the taking of such wildlife as the commissioner deems necessary to control such damage by such method as the commissioner determines, including the use of lights, during the period between sunset and sunrise, upon written application of the owner or lessee of record of the land on which such crops are grown. Such permits may be issued to any qualified person designated by such landowner or lessee. The person to whom such permit is issued shall be held responsible for complying with the conditions under which such permit is issued. The provisions of this section shall not apply to deer.
(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. Such license shall be valid for a period of two years and may be renewed in accordance with a schedule established by the commissioner. The fee for such license shall be two hundred fifty dollars. The controlling of nuisance wildlife at the direction of the commissioner shall not constitute engaging in the business of controlling nuisance wildlife for the purposes of this section. 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.
(2) The licensure requirements shall apply to municipal employees who engage in the control or handling of animals, including, but not limited to, animal control officers, except that no license shall be required of such employees for the emergency control of rabies. Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection, the commissioner shall waive the licensure fee for such employees. The commissioner shall provide to such municipal employees, without charge, the training required for licensure under this subsection. A license held by a municipal employee shall be noncommercial, nontransferable and conditional upon municipal employment.
(3) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, which (A) define the scope and methods for controlling nuisance wildlife provided such regulations shall incorporate the recommendations of the 1993 report of the American Veterinary Medical Association panel on euthanasia and further provided such regulations may provide for the use of specific alternatives to such recommendations only in specified circumstances where use of a method of killing approved by such association would involve an imminent threat to human health or safety and only if such alternatives are designed to kill the animal as quickly and painlessly as practicable while protecting human health and safety, and (B) establish criteria and procedures for issuance of a license.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in regulations adopted under this section, 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.
(5) 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 information included in such report which identifies a client of such person or the client's street address may be released by the commissioner only pursuant to an investigation related to enforcement of this section.
(c) 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.
(1957, P.A. 497; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 242; P.A. 85-100, S. 3; P.A. 97-255; P.A. 98-199, S. 1, 2; P.A. 01-204, S. 1, 29; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 73, 131; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 90; P.A. 03-19, S. 66; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 450; P.A. 12-80, S. 131.)
History: 1971 act replaced references to director of board of fisheries and game with references to environmental protection commissioner; P.A. 85-100 added provisions re license for controlling nuisance wildlife and specifying that issuance of license or permit does not authorize taking of deer and divided section into Subsecs.; P.A. 97-255 amended Subsec. (b) to provide for training requirements for wildlife control licensees, criteria for determining methods for the control of nuisance wildlife, conditions governing certain methods, options to be provided to clients of such licensees and reporting requirements re methods of control used by such licensees; P.A. 98-199 amended Subsec. (b) to add training in nonlethal resolution of nuisance wildlife problems and to require that if statement of control options cannot be provided to clients before services are rendered that statement be left at job site or agreed upon location, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 01-204 amended Subsec. (a) to make technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, amended Subsec. (b) to delete the license expiration date from the last day of the December next succeeding its issuance, making it valid for a period of two years, and renewable in accordance with a schedule established by the commissioner, to change the license fee from $50 to $100, to make technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, to add a provision prohibiting the commissioner from issuing a license to a person unless that person 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, to add a new Subdiv. (2) re application of licensure requirements to municipal employees, renumbering the remaining subdivisions accordingly, to make technical changes, and to change the date that licensees must submit a report re the means utilized in each case of nuisance wildlife control service from February first of each year to a date as the commissioner may determine, effective July 11, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of P.A. 01-204 but without affecting this section; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 increased license fee from $100 to $200 in Subsec. (b)(1), effective January 1, 2003; P.A. 03-19 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective May 12, 2003; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to increase fee from $200 to $250; P.A. 12-80 amended Subsec. (c) to change penalty from a fine of not less than $25 or more than $200 or imprisonment of not more than 60 days or both to a class D misdemeanor.
See Sec. 26-82 re regulation of killing of deer.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game
Section 26-2. - Members. Appointment. Compensation.
Section 26-3. - Powers and duties of commissioner.
Section 26-3a. - Acquisition of easements for maintenance of dams.
Section 26-4. - Appointment and duties of director.
Section 26-5. - Appointment of conservation officers, special conservation officers and patrolmen.
Section 26-6. - Powers and duties of conservation officers and patrolmen.
Section 26-6a. - Constables for fish and game protection.
Section 26-6b. - Search of containers by conservation officers.
Section 26-6c. - Immunity from attachments.
Section 26-7. - Volunteer assistants.
Section 26-8. - Ordinances controlling use of waters not applicable to department or employees.
Section 26-9. - Annual exhibition.
Section 26-14. - Federal aid for fish restoration projects.
Section 26-15a. - Appropriations to Bureau of Natural Resources. Federal aid. Annual report.
Section 26-16. - Public hunting and fishing lands and waters.
Section 26-17. - Release of fishing or hunting rights.
Section 26-17a. - Acquisition and preservation of tidal wetlands.
Section 26-18. - Fish or game for propagation.
Section 26-19. - Motor boats in Bantam River.
Section 26-20. - Signs on rights-of-way to state ponds or streams.
Section 26-21. - Notice not to be destroyed.
Section 26-22. - Control of aquatic plants and animals.
Section 26-23. - Abandoned or discarded fishing or hunting implements. Derelict lobster gear.
Section 26-24. - Use or disposal of seized articles.
Section 26-25. - Commissioner may declare closed season or extend open season.
Section 26-25a. - Regulation of feeding of wildlife on state-owned property.
Section 26-25b. - Disclosure of stocking schedules.
Section 26-25c. - Release of lighter-than-air balloons restricted. Penalty.
Section 26-26. - Enforcement in state boundary waters of fish and game laws.
Section 26-26a. - Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Compact.
Section 26-26b. - Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Section 26-27. - Licenses required for hunting, trapping and fishing. Exceptions.
Section 26-27a. - Junior licenses.
Section 26-27e. - Sport fishing licenses. Statement re discarding of fishing line or other litter.
Section 26-27f. - Three-day out-of-state bird hunting license. Fee. Regulations.
Section 26-27g. - Lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. Authorization. Regulations.
Section 26-28. - Hunting, trapping and sport fishing license fees.
Section 26-28a. - Combination licenses for servicemen. Fee.
Section 26-28b. - Marine waters fishing license. Exemptions.
Section 26-28c. - Marine waters fishing license fees.
Section 26-29. - Free lifetime fishing license for person who is blind.
Section 26-29a. - Free lifetime fishing licenses for persons with intellectual disability.
Section 26-29c. - Free private land deer permit for certain farmers.
Section 26-30. - Applications. Issuance of licenses.
Section 26-31a. - Instruction in fishing techniques.
Section 26-31b. - Hunting and fishing guide services. Licenses. Fee.
Section 26-31d. - Printed fishing guides for 2023 season. Public availability.
Section 26-32. - Permanent license.
Section 26-33. - Issuance of complimentary licenses to nonresidents.
Section 26-34. - License for nonresident servicemen.
Section 26-34a. - License for nonresident servicemen.
Section 26-36. - Record of licenses. Remittance of fees by town clerks.
Section 26-37. - Duplicate licenses.
Section 26-38. - Hunting by minors.
Section 26-39. - Hunting licenses for owners of packs of dogs.
Section 26-40. - Game breeders license. Possession of skunks or raccoons.
Section 26-40b. - Animals, the skin or body of which is not to be sold.
Section 26-40c. - Search and seizure.
Section 26-40e. - Killing, possession and sale of endangered and threatened species.
Section 26-42. - Licensing of raw fur dealers. Inspection. Regulations.
Section 26-43. - Sale of raw furs to unlicensed nonresident dealer.
Section 26-44. - Licensing of ferrets.
Section 26-45. - Bait dealer's license.
Section 26-46. - Reciprocal fishing privileges.
Section 26-47. - Permits to take wildlife damaging crops. License to control nuisance wildlife.
Section 26-47a. - Use of noise-making devices to repel marauding birds and wildlife.
Section 26-48. - Private shooting preserves; permits; regulations.
Section 26-48a. - Management of salmon, trout and turkey. Issuance of permits, tags or stamps.
Section 26-49. - Training of hunting dogs. Permits for liberation of artificially propagated birds.
Section 26-50. - Permits for training hunting dogs using liberated pheasants.
Section 26-51. - Permits for field dog trials. Fee.
Section 26-52. - Permits for shooting birds liberated at field dog trials. Fees.
Section 26-53. - Hunting licenses not required at field trials.
Section 26-54. - Permits for custodians of protected birds and quadrupeds.
Section 26-55a. - Possession of diploid grass carp.
Section 26-56. - Permits for importation of wild hares or rabbits.
Section 26-58. - Taxidermist's license.
Section 26-59. - Regulation of tanning, curing and mounting; permits.
Section 26-60. - Permits to collect certain wildlife for scientific and educational purposes. Fee.
Section 26-61. - Suspension of license, registration or permit. Restoration. Fines.
Section 26-62. - Hunting accidents; suspension of license or privilege to hunt.
Section 26-63. - Notice of action on license.
Section 26-64. - Fine for violations. Exception.
Section 26-65a. - Prohibition re reduction of state land where hunting is permitted.
Section 26-66. - Scope of regulations.
Section 26-66a. - Posting of warning signs by the department. Fees.
Section 26-67a. - Confidentiality of reports.
Section 26-67b. - Commissioner to advise law enforcement authorities re fish and game laws.
Section 26-67d. - Falconry: Definitions.
Section 26-68. - Emergency declaration of closed seasons.
Section 26-69. - Wildlife management practices.
Section 26-72. - Regulation of trapping of fur-bearing animals.
Section 26-73. - Hunting on Sunday. Bow and arrow hunting of deer on private property.
Section 26-74. - Use of motor vehicles, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles in hunting.
Section 26-75. - Silencer on firearms.
Section 26-76. - Possession limit of game birds, wild quadrupeds, reptiles and amphibians.
Section 26-77. - Taking of waterfowl in open coastal waters.
Section 26-78. - Sale of birds, quadrupeds, reptiles or amphibians.
Section 26-78a. - Donation of game to charitable organizations.
Section 26-79. - Hunting in Putnam Memorial Camp grounds.
Section 26-80. - Disposition of birds, quadrupeds, reptiles or amphibians illegally taken.
Section 26-80a. - Illegal taking of moose or bear. Suspension of hunting license. Penalties.
Section 26-82a. - Private land revolver permit to hunt deer. Requirements.
Section 26-83 and 26-84. - Permits to hunt deer. Fee for permit to kill deer.
Section 26-85. - Jacklighting for deer. Forfeiture and disposal of weapons.
Section 26-86. - Deer, moose or black bear killed or wounded by motor vehicle.
Section 26-86b. - Tags. Report of kill.
Section 26-86e. - Regulation of hunting of doe deer.
Section 26-86f. - Hunting of fawn deer prohibited.
Section 26-87. - Taking rabbits by use of ferrets. Authorization. Penalties.
Section 26-88. - Use of explosives.
Section 26-89. - Cutting trees or using fire to take raccoon.
Section 26-90. - False statement, penalty. General penalty.
Section 26-92. - Wild birds other than game birds protected, exception. Game birds defined.
Section 26-92a. - State purchase of game birds.
Section 26-94. - Hunting of swan prohibited.
Section 26-95. - Trapping of birds.
Section 26-96. - Trap shooting.
Section 26-97. - Killing game birds in Westport Fire District prohibited. Penalty.
Section 26-99. - Establishment of fish and game refuges.
Section 26-100. - Posting notices.
Section 26-101. - Wildlife refuges and closed areas.
Section 26-102. - Fish spawning areas and refuges.
Section 26-104. - Bantam Lake sanctuary.
Section 26-105. - Lake Wononscopomuc sanctuary. Limited hunting.
Section 26-106. - Milford refuge.
Section 26-107. - Hunting and trapping on wildlife refuge or closed area.
Section 26-107f. - Program for the conservation of nonharvested wildlife.
Section 26-107g. - Citizen's Advisory Board for Nonharvested Wildlife. Membership. Duties.
Section 26-107h. - Annual report.
Section 26-108. - Inland waters and marine district defined.
Section 26-110. - Demarcation lines.
Section 26-111. - Regulation of fishing.
Section 26-112. - Scope of regulations.
Section 26-114. - Prohibited acts.
Section 26-114a. - Purchase or sale of snakehead fish prohibited.
Section 26-115. - Fisheries management practices of commissioner.
Section 26-117. - Fine for violation.
Section 26-118. - Fishing in reservoir.
Section 26-119. - Use of explosives or poisons.
Section 26-120. - Striped bass.
Section 26-121. - Taking of tomcod or frost fish in Saugatuck River.
Section 26-122. - Fishing through ice in Cranberry Pond, Cream Hill Lake and Lake Quonnipaug.
Section 26-123. - Fishing through ice in Long Meadow Pond.
Section 26-124. - Indian Pond.
Section 26-125. - Beach Pond and Killingly Pond.
Section 26-126. - Disposition of fish illegally taken.
Section 26-127. - Conservation of bait species. Daily limit.
Section 26-128. - Carp and goldfish.
Section 26-128a. - Taking of glass eels, elver eels and silver eels prohibited. Penalty.
Section 26-128b. - Trout. Elimination of closed season.
Section 26-129. - Forfeiture of fishing tackle.
Section 26-131. - Registration of private waters. Taking of fish without license.
Section 26-132. - Privately stocked waters.
Section 26-133. - Stocking with different species of fish.
Section 26-134. - Obstructing streams.
Section 26-135. - Pond weirs and nets.
Section 26-137. - Fishing near fishways.
Section 26-138. - Draining for taking fish.
Section 26-139. - Responsibility for draining. Penalty.
Section 26-140. - Fishing rights in stream crossing highway.
Section 26-141. - Fine for violation.
Section 26-141a. - Standards for flow of water in rivers or streams.
Section 26-141c. - Violation of regulations.
Section 26-142. - Registration of nets. Permits to tend or operate.
Section 26-142c. - Vessel permit exemption for taking lobsters or fish for personal use.
Section 26-142d. - Dual-landing agreements for Winter I Summer Flounder.
Section 26-143. - Nets to be marked.
Section 26-143a. - Nets to be buoyed and marked. Boats to display license or registration flag.
Section 26-149. - Commercial hatcheries. Fees.
Section 26-154a. - Use of purse seines in Long Island Sound.
Section 26-155. - Fish oil or fertilizer.
Section 26-156 and 26-157. - Crabs. Lobsters.
Section 26-157a. - Lobster management program.
Section 26-157b. - Reports. Penalty.
Section 26-157d. - Lobster restoration program. Regulations.
Section 26-157g. - Lobster v-notch restoration program.
Section 26-157h. - Lobster trap allocation buy-back program.
Section 26-158. - Sale of lobsters.
Section 26-159. - Sea sturgeon.
Section 26-159b. - Taking and selling of sea sturgeon prohibited.
Section 26-159c. - Commissioner to conduct public hearings in coastal areas.
Section 26-160. - Extension zones.
Section 26-164. - Inspection of license.
Section 26-166. - Obstructions.
Section 26-167. - Stealing fish, lobsters or equipment. Penalty.
Section 26-168. - Sale or taking of salt water fish.
Section 26-169. - Nets and seines prohibited in Darien, Stamford and Greenwich.
Section 26-170. - Use of seine in Norwalk Harbor.
Section 26-171. - Taking smelt in Greenwich.
Section 26-174. - Pawcatuck River.
Section 26-175. - Long Beach and Penfield Reef.
Section 26-177. - Mystic River.
Section 26-178. - Thames River.
Section 26-179. - Taking smelt in Groton.
Section 26-180. - Milford Harbor.
Section 26-181. - Chester Cove.
Section 26-182. - Wright's Cove.
Section 26-183. - Use of nets in Long Island Sound adjacent to Stratford.
Section 26-184. - Use of nets in Keney Cove.