We do not move wildlife because wild animals occur everywhere there is habitat for them. Removing animals generally results in other animals moving in instead. Many wildlife species that people fear are really quite harmless when left alone, and can even be beneficial to have around. For example, black rat snakes occur just about everywhere in NJ, including backyards where they feed on rodents and invertebrates and may find shelter in crawl spaces, around foundations or in vegetation where they feel safe. Like most wildlife, they avoid people as best they can. Our advice is to leave wild animals like snakes and turtles be, and let them move along on their own. If you’ve found a venomous snake in your yard, NJFW can send a Venomous Snake Response Team member to relocate the snake. Please take a photo so we can confirm the snake species before sending someone out as there are many look-alikes! Please contact us through the DEP hotline (1-877 WARN DEP or 1-877-927-6337). For problematic mammals (skunks, woodchucks, raccoons, squirrels), contact a pest control company or your local animal control officer.

Wild birds are routinely banded to help track survival, migration, and dispersal. Anyone who finds a banded bird should record the band number, species (if known), location, and circumstances, and report it to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory (https://www.usgs.gov/labs/bird-banding-laboratory). The band will have a 9-digit number; color bands may have short codes. State biologists are particularly interested in bands that are field-readable, such as those used on Bald eagles, Peregrine falcons, and some other species. For those band codes, record the code and band color, and the species, location, and date, and email that to ENSPTrentonVoicemail@njdepwptest.net. Banded birds that are found dead should always be reported to the Bird Banding Lab. Any endangered or threatened birds found dead should be reported to the DEP Hotline at 877-WARN DEP. Racing pigeons are banded with plastic color bands that may have codes; those are not reportable to the Bird Banding Lab but may be found online in pigeon owners clubs. Bats are also routinely banded during studies. If you find a live bat that is banded, try to photograph the bat and get a close-up of the band numbers without touching or coming within a few feet of the bat. If the bat appears injured or in need of help, reach out to a NJ licensed wildlife rehabilitator who treats bats. If the bat you’ve found is dead, please make note of the location, collect it in a ziploc bag or a container if you’re willing (without directly touching the bat), or photograph the bat and its band numbers. Report bat sightings to ENSPTrentonVoicemail@njdepwptest.net.

Some birds specialize in preying on other smaller birds to live. The concentration of birds at bird feeders naturally attracts these raptors, since they too need enough food to survive the winter. In NJ, a large migration of juvenile hawks in the fall may also seek prey at feeders. If you do not wish to see this happen, you may want to reduce your bird feeding, or move the feeder to a place where there is dense cover (shrubs, trees, vines) for birds to escape into when hawks fly in.

Hawks can fly into large warehouses in pursuit of prey and not find their way out. It’s best to open all doors and keep them open as long as possible to allow the bird to fly out. If it’s an owl, you need to leave the doors (and/or windows) open all night. There are licensed falconers who volunteer to help get trapped raptors out of these situations. Call the DEP Hotline, 877-WARN-DEP, to reach a NJ Fish and Wildlife biologist.

Woodpeckers typically peck on houses with wood siding to get to the insects underneath the siding. Most birds do not like shiny things that move, so tacking up strips of aluminum foil (2 inches wide and about 2 feet long) or securing mylar balloons near where they peck will help to keep them away from the house. Woodpeckers like sunflower seeds and suet, so setting up some bird feeders will also help keep them from pecking at your house. If bears frequent your area, be sure to take down your feeders, or hoist them above 10 feet and away from a tree, so you’re not attracting bears to your home.

Canada geese are native, migratory birds that are protected along with all other native birds. However, in some situations a landowner may be eligible for assistance with the management of Canada geese and some other species from USDA Wildlife Services. The NJ office of USDA Wildlife Services is 908-735-5654.

Due to disease and genetic concerns, it is not recommended to raise and release butterflies purchased from breeders or other sources.  It is far better to create butterfly habitat in your yard and build a natural home for these species. For more information visit the Backyard Habitat website.

If the snake is a non-venomous species, or you’re not sure, please contact your local Animal Control Officer (often reachable through your local police department) or a private wildlife control company to catch and relocate the snake outdoors. If you believe the snake is a rattlesnake or copperhead, please take a photograph prior to contacting us. Then call the DEP Hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-027-6337) and request assistance. Please note, NJ Fish & Wildlife biologists do not remove snakes from homes unless we confirm it is venomous. See our Snake Help page for more info.

Feeding deer is highly discouraged and can cause problems amongst the deer population such as increasing the spread of disease and parasites, changing behavioral patterns to lead them to cross more roadways, and the wrong food can also directly sicken or kill deer. Wildlife lovers are encouraged to enjoy their presence passively and allow them to live as the wild animals they are, as they do not need our assistance for survival.

Leave the fawn alone unless it is showing signs of distress such as: the fawn begins to wander aimlessly and cries for an extended period of time, the fawn is laying flat on its side or if the fawn is surrounded by flies or covered in ticks. If you find a fawn exhibiting these signs, call a Wildlife Rehabilitator and follow their instructions.