Print
Share page with AddThis

Wildlife and Non-Domestic Animals

Although the ACO may provide advice and education for wildlife situations, the ACO is limited in terms of actions they may take concerning wildlife and non-domestic animals. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MASSWILDLIFE) is the appropriate authority concerning laws and regulations pertaining to wildlife and the keeping of wild animals. The ACO may only directly intervene with wildlife issues under certain circumstances.

The ACO cannot intervene except to provide education in the following circumstances:

  • Wildlife with mange or other naturally occurring diseases that are not transmissible to humans
  • Wildlife fecal matter, (Canada geese, turkeys, beaver)
  • The presence of wildlife in residential areas
  • Daylight activity of wildlife
  • Den sites, young wildlife
  • Wildlife feeding on naturally available or human-associated food sources
  • Inquisitive/curious behavior of wildlife, (coyotes & foxes)
  • Snakes of any species

MASSWILDLIFE has authority over wild mammals, birds, freshwater fish, reptiles, amphibians, and endangered species (includes plants & invertebrates).

The ACO may only directly intervene with wildlife in the following circumstances:

  • An animal that is displaying behavior which causes the ACO to reasonably conclude that the animal is diseased, or which has attacked a human or domestic animal.
  • If they are authorized by MASSWILDLIFE to address a wildlife issue.
  • To assist police with nuisance wildlife issues creating traffic hazards.

You may contact the ACO or MASSWILDLIFE for wild animals making or attempting to make physical contact with humans, habituated individuals – approaching for food, wild animals that are highly defensive of a food source or young, wild animals in roadways creating traffic hazards, and injured or diseased wild animals, and you will be provided with guidance or the ACO or MASSWILDLIFE will take the appropriate action.

Source References: MGL c.131 & 131A, 321CMR9.00, Professional Guidance- ACO Core Competencies: Wildlife, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife web, mass.gov