You might be surprised at what you can trap without a permit in Michigan. The state has changed the list of nuisance animals and the kill list has grown.

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Nuisance Animals

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Whether you live in the city of Grand Rapids or in the middle of nowhere in Newaygo County, you probably have a nuisance animal or two, or three. Groundhogs have long been a nuisance animal by making dens under decks, garages, barns, or outbuildings. They might be cute but the holes and dens they make can cause your foundation to drop or collapse. If you grow a garden, groundhogs will eat and destroy much of your hard work before you even have a chance to pick your crops.

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Chipmunks dig holes in your yard, dig up your flower beds, and can even get into your attic and cause some serious problems. Moles have also been a problem for yards and let's not forget about raccoons who are really crafty at getting in garbage cans, houses, and barns and can be tough to get rid of. Raccoons can also do some damage if you have a garden as well. These are all animals that you are allowed to trap and kill because of the damage they do.

New Animals Added to the Nuisance List for the State of Michigan

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I was surprised the Department of Natural Resources allowed beavers to be added to the nuisance animals list, but then again, it's about time. Trappers years ago just about wiped beavers completely out of the state of Michigan but after laws and trapping seasons were put in place, the animals have thrived since hardly anyone traps them anymore, they have now overpopulated and are causing problems with drains, tree loss, and flooding in places all over the state.

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Last fall I had some beavers coming into my woods and dropping all kinds of good trees and because I couldn't legally do anything until trapping season came in, they got to do a lot of damage on my property. Plus, they flooded the whole area and it was causing problems for the farmer to plow the fields. When trapping season came in, I let my neighbor's friend come in a take a couple out. That is when my trees stopped being cut down and the flooding stopped. Now beavers are on the nuisance list so if this happens again I won't have to wait to stop the damage to my trees and land.

What Animals Are Now on the Nuisance List in Michigan?

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I already mentioned beavers but coyotes, groundhogs, raccoons, and skunks were already on the list. Other new animals that have been added to the nuisance list are possums, rabbits, grey and fox squirrels, muskrats, weasels, and ground squirrels that can be killed without a permit. This rule was changed for landowners so if you live in a suburban area you may still need a permit.

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I have a deck that rabbits have chewed the skirt up to hide underneath but when I change that skirt, I may bag a few rabbits during hunting season around the farm so not only will I slow them down but get a good meal out of it as well.

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I know to animal lovers that these animals are cute but if you have a chicken coup and trying to raise eggs and chickens to feed your family, a weasel will eat the eggs and kill your chickens to feed its family. Weasels will kill ducks and other small livestock around the farm.

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Before you trap anything you still should review what the DNR says about the nuisance animal and trapping them. Click for all you need to know.

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