Wildlife removal in Tennessee

Nuisance wildlife in Tennessee is regulated by the TWRA. Paid operators must hold an ADC permit. Relocation of native wildlife is illegal without a specific transport permit. Captured furbearers must be released on-site or euthanized, and skunks must be euthanized.

Get connected with a provider in Tennessee

Call (833) 567-5793

Call to speak with an available provider. Coverage varies by location.

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Most common wildlife calls in Tennessee

Residential nuisance wildlife calls across Tennessee concentrate heavily around five persistent species. Each presents distinct property damage risks and legal handling protocols:

Raccoons in attics and chimneys

Raccoons are powerful animals capable of tearing through rotted fascia, prying open soffit returns, and nesting inside uncapped chimney flues. In Tennessee, maternal denning peaks from late winter through spring. Removing adult raccoons while kits remain trapped inside wall cavities can lead to severe structural damage. Learn how raccoon removal works, including humane eviction strategies and roundworm latrine sanitization.

Gray and flying squirrels in rooflines

Squirrels enter through dime- to golf-ball-sized gaps along ridge vents, gable vents, and roof intersections. Once established in attic insulation, their continuous gnawing habit presents serious fire hazards when electrical wiring insulation is stripped. Review proven methods for professional squirrel removal from attics and whole-house exclusion repairs.

Colonial bats in attics and tile roofs

Bats squeeze through exterior gaps as narrow as 3/8 of an inch, colonizing dark attic corners and roof valleys. Because bats are ecologically valuable and federally or state protected throughout Tennessee, poisons and lethal traps are strictly illegal. Exclusion must be carefully timed around breeding cycles to avoid trapping non-volant pups inside. Read our guide to humane bat exclusion services and state-regulated exclusion calendars.

Snakes in crawl spaces and basements

Snakes follow rodent scent trails into damp crawl spaces, basements, and foundation gaps across Tennessee. While the majority of indoor encounters involve nonvenomous rat snakes or garter snakes, venomous species such as copperheads, cottonmouths, or rattlesnakes require extreme caution. If a snake is discovered in an occupied living space, contact local specialists for emergency snake removal rather than risking an unverified strike.

Skunks and opossums under decks and porches

Low-clearance concrete porches, deck steps, and open foundation vents offer attractive winter denning sites for skunks and opossums. Skunk burrowing can undermine slab stability, while seasonal territorial spraying permeates subflooring and indoor living areas. Technicians utilize humane cage trapping and subterranean barrier trenching for long-term skunk removal under decks and humane opossum removal.

Need wildlife help in Tennessee? Call

Call (833) 567-5793 to speak with an available provider about a wildlife problem at your Tennessee property. Nuisance wildlife work in Tennessee is regulated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), and operators work under this licensing rule: Animal Damage Control (ADC) permit. That is why what can lawfully be done — trapping, relocation, bat exclusion timing — is spelled out in the sections below.

The independent provider sets the scope and the price for your property; confirm both on the call. Coverage varies by location. See how removal works for each animal or the wildlife removal laws by state.

What Tennessee law allows

Paid operators must hold an Animal Damage Control (ADC) permit from the TWRA.
Property owners can capture nuisance animals causing damage but must release them on-site or euthanize them.
It is illegal to transport and relocate wildlife to other properties without a permit.
Skunks can never be relocated and must be humanely euthanized on-site.

Rules paraphrased from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) — the primary source. Last reviewed 2026-07-16. Compare wildlife regulations, trap check mandates, and operator licensing standards across state borders in our comprehensive guide to wildlife removal laws by state.

Relocation rules

Tennessee prohibits transporting live wildlife for release elsewhere without a permit. Trapped animals must be released on the same property or humanely euthanized. Skunks must be euthanized.

Bat rules

TWRA requires permitted Animal Damage Control operators to obtain TWRA approval before any bat exclusion work, reporting the species, estimated number, and whether young are present. We could not confirm exact statewide maternity-season dates from an official TWRA page; best practice is to avoid exclusion roughly May through early August, when flightless pups may be present.

Source: TWRA – Wildlife Damage Control in Tennessee · Last verified: October 2026

City guides in Tennessee

Knoxville

Knox County · Common calls: raccoons, squirrels, bats

Chattanooga

Hamilton County · Common calls: raccoons, squirrels, bats

Cleveland

Bradley County · Common calls: raccoons, squirrels, bats

Maryville

Blount County · Common calls: squirrels, raccoons, bats

Oak Ridge

Anderson County · Common calls: raccoons, squirrels, bats

Farragut

Knox County · Common calls: squirrels, raccoons, bats

Alcoa

Blount County · Common calls: squirrels, raccoons, bats

Signal Mountain

Hamilton County · Common calls: bats, raccoons, flying squirrels

Tennessee wildlife law FAQs

Can a skunk be relocated in Tennessee?

No. Tennessee law prohibits the relocation of skunks entirely due to rabies concerns. They must be humanely euthanized on-site by a permitted professional.

Do Tennessee wildlife operators need a special license?

Yes. Commercial operators must hold an Animal Damage Control (ADC) permit issued by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

When is bat exclusion prohibited in Tennessee attics?

TWRA requires permitted operators to get approval before any bat exclusion, reporting the species, estimated number, and whether young are present. We could not confirm exact statewide maternity dates from an official TWRA page. Best practice is to avoid exclusion roughly May through early August, when flightless pups may be in the roost, and to resume once young bats can fly.

Can raccoons or opossums be trapped on private property without a permit in TN?

Tennessee property owners experiencing property damage may trap nuisance wildlife without a permit, but animals must be released on-site or humanely dispatched; off-site transport is illegal without a TWRA authorization.

Talk to someone about your wildlife problem

Call (833) 567-5793

Call to speak with an available provider. Coverage varies by location.