Nuisance & Problem Species

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Need assistance with nuisance wildlife?

Search the list of authorized nuisance wildlife control operators to help with your nuisance wildlife issue.

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What's the difference between "invasive" and "nuisance"?

"Invasive" species come from other watersheds, other regions, or other continents. In a new landscape, they may have no natural controls, such as predators. As a result, nonnative animals, such as feral hogs, often eat local wildlife or their foods and consume or destroy their habitat. Invasive plants, such as spotted knapweed, can also outcompete crops and livestock forage, reducing economic productivity.

"Nuisance" animals are native to the local landscape but can still cause problems. Canada geese, for example, have historically used Missouri for summer breeding grounds, but they have become nuisances where they have year-round access to short, palatable grass and open water. Raccoons can be troublesome when they repeatedly knock over trash cans or get into your chicken coop. 

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If wildlife is damaging your property, you may control it, but learn the wildlife-control guidelines and related regulations first.

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Nuisance Native Species
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Image of an armadillo
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control armadillo damage on your Missouri property.

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badger
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control badger damage on your Missouri property.

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Eastern Small Footed Bat
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Learn to prevent and control nuisance bats in your Missouri home or outbuildings.

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Photo of a beaver crouched on land
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control beaver damage on your Missouri property.

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black bear
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control black-bear damage on your Missouri property.

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blackbird
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control blackbird damage in Missouri.

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Canada goose in water
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Learn to control nuisance Canada geese in your Missouri community or on private property.

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Image of an eastern chipmunk
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control chipmunk damage on your Missouri property.

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Learn to control nuisance common snapping turtles in your Missouri pond or wetland. It is illegal to harm or kill endangered alligator snapping turtles in Missouri.

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Learn to identify, prevent, and control cottontail-rabbit damage on your Missouri property.

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Learn to identify, prevent, and control nuisance coyotes on your Missouri property.

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Doe and a fawn in a grassy field near woody cover.
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Browse techniques for controlling nuisance white-tailed deer on your Missouri property.

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Groundhog
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control groundhog damage on your Missouri property.

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mole
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Learn to identify and control nuisance moles on your Missouri property.

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Muskrat
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control muskrat damage in your Missouri pond or wetland.

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Opossum
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control opossum damage on your Missouri property.

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photo of river otter
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control otter damage on your Missouri property.

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Racoon
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control raccoon damage on your Missouri property.

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skunk
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control striped skunk damage on your Missouri property.

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Photo of long-tailed weasel
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control weasel damage on your Missouri property.

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reddish squirrel on wooden fence rail
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Learn to recognize, prevent, and control squirrel damage on your Missouri property.

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vole
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control nuisance voles on your Missouri property.

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Related Content
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Because they are nonnative, destructive and dangerous, feral hogs should be eliminated from Missouri. This section discusses efforts to control feral hogs in our state.

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Photo of a gray rock pigeon standing among rocks
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Learn to identify, prevent, and control damage from nonnative common pigeons (also known as rock doves) on your Missouri property.

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Photograph of a European Starling
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Learn to control European starlings in Missouri livestock feedlots.