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NJDFW Wildlife Relocation Policy

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Executive Summary

This document outlines the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife's (NJDFW) policy regarding the relocation of wildlife. The policy establishes standards for releasing terrestrial animals affected by rehabilitation or nuisance situations, with a focus on minimizing the spread of disease, competition for resources, and unnatural genetic flow. It addresses specific guidelines for amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and rabies vector species, emphasizing release at the site of capture whenever possible and providing distance limitations for relocation when necessary. Landowner permission is required for all releases, and coordination with NJDFW is mandatory for certain species like bears and bobcats.

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and small mammals than for avian species. Human interpretation of what is better habitat and what, 
therefore, is a better release site is an academic exercise, which is often difficult even for experts. 
 
When considering release, the concept of "carrying capacity" must be remembered. Carrying 
capacity is defined as the number of individual animals a particular habitat can support because of 
the food, water, cover and living space it provides for a particular species. The number of animals 
that a particular location supports is, therefore, finite. Release of wildlife in a location other than the 
site of capture may exacerbate competition for limited resources at a given location and should 
therefore be avoided whenever possible. Release locations must vary so that many rehabilitated or 
nuisance animals are not released at the same location. This practice, known as "dumping", will 
likely result in decreased survival probability for the released animals and is therefore unacceptable 
for either rehabilitated or nuisance wildlife. An unusually high density of wildlife that cannot be 
supported at a particular location will invariably lead to increased stress, disease, parasites, and 
ultimately death of many animals. Spill-over of wildlife into adjacent properties often leads to 
nuisance wildlife situations. 
 
Nuisance Wildlife 
 
Relocation of nuisance wildlife must be evaluated on a case by case basis. In most cases, nuisance 
wildlife need not be brought to wildlife rehabilitators. Whenever possible, habitat alteration (e.g., 
capping chimney) and education of the homeowner in order to allow release on site is encouraged. 
Failure to remedy the situation by using exclusionary devices or removing the attractant (e.g., 
garbage) will guarantee that the problem will continue even if the offending animal is removed. If 
release on site is not practical, relocation must follow the guidelines below. 
 
Before relocating any adult wildlife during the spring and summer, a search for their newborns 
should be conducted. If found, these young must be relocated with the adults. Any trapped nuisance 
wildlife that appears to be injured or sick should be placed with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for 
evaluation prior to release. If release on site or relocation of a nuisance animal will create a new 
problem, euthanasia of the problem animals should be considered. 
 
Property owners and occupants of dwellings, or their agents in writing, may control property damage 
by lawful means when suffering such damage from squirrel, raccoon, opossum, skunk, weasel, 
coyote, fox and woodchuck (N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.21). If euthanasia is found to be the only viable method 
of control, the above species may be euthanized according to the methods declared as acceptable or 
conditionally acceptable in the most recent report of the American Veterinary Medical Association 
(AVMA) Guidelines on Euthanasia. The AVMA report states drowning is not an acceptable method 
of euthanasia. 
 
Other municipal and state laws, such as those relating to the discharge of firearms apply. Most other 
common wildlife species are controlled through hunting and trapping seasons, established by state 
and/or federal regulations. 
 
Releasable Wildlife 
 
Releasable wildlife can be grouped into two distinct categories; injured or orphaned juveniles and 
injured adults. For many species, orphans or young-of-the-year have not yet established home ranges 
and may naturally disperse considerable distances from their natal home range. Young-of-the-year 
wildlife may be released at any appropriate habitat within the county of origin. Frequently, young 


birds and mammals may be healthy enough to be returned to their own nest/den (if location is 
known) or placed into a suitable nest/den/family of adults other than their parents (“fostering”). 
Young mammals may be fostered into appropriate families within their county of origin; due to their 
larger natural dispersal area, young birds may be fostered into suitable nests and/or families within 
the state. In instances where placement of young birds will occur more than 50 miles from site of 
origin, such placement should be done only in consultation with NJDFW. Most adults (one year or 
older) already have established home ranges and would benefit greatly by release into familiar 
territory. 
 
When release at the site of initial capture is not possible for adult mammals, euthanasia or 
permanent placement should be considered. Studies have shown that chances for survival are 
minimal for adults relocated outside of original home range and habitat preference (i.e., urban to 
rural). 
 
Non-Releasable Wildlife 
 
Animals that are unlikely to survive because of physical or behavioral problems should not be 
considered for release. Non-releasable wildlife that are suitable for use in educational programs, 
foster parenting, research projects, or other permitted activities may be placed by NJDFW staff with 
persons permitted or otherwise authorized to possess such wildlife. Use of physically deformed 
animals for educational purposes is discouraged. Animals that cannot be released by the rehabilitator 
or placed by NJDFW are to be euthanized. 
 
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES 
 
Amphibians and Reptiles 
 
Home ranges for amphibians and reptiles are not well known but are less than an acre for some 
species. Survival depends on close proximity to important habitat components such as traditional 
hibernacula (denning sites) or breeding sites. Disease spread and genetic flow over geographic 
distance are certainly slower for these sedentary species. Relocation of captured animals over 
relatively short distances may be highly detrimental to the individual animals, as well as, pose great 
risk to local populations. Research and experience has shown that snakes may be released within 
200 meters (slightly more than two football fields) from a capture location in a nuisance situation and 
not present future problems. Movements greater than 200 meters may be too far to ensure their 
survival. Therefore, the maximum relocation distance the state permits from the site of capture is 200 
meters. Aquatic turtles should be returned to the watershed from which they were taken; other turtles 
should be returned to within 200 meters of the site of capture.  
 
For additional assistance with relocation of turtles or salamanders throughout the state, contact the 
Endangered and Non-Game Species Program (ENSP) office in Clinton at (908) 638-4127. 
 
Birds 
 
Current rehabilitation practice usually involves releasing hatching-year passerines at the 
rehabilitation center where supplemental feeding is available while birds gain flight experience. 
Adult birds are often released off site in suitable habitat and at the appropriate time of year (e.g., 
returned to point of capture during breeding/nesting season, and released at an appropriate point in 


their migration corridor during migration season). Since migratory bird species are widely dispersed, 
there is no need to return them to point of capture during migration season. Adult birds found during 
the nesting season may be territorial to an area and should be released close (within one mile) to the 
location of their initial discovery, unless doing so would risk additional injury or put them in 
otherwise unsuitable habitat (e.g., birds were captured during an oil spill and that area is still 
contaminated). 
 
Mammals 
 
Ideally, all mammals should be released at the site of capture if it is known, and if permission of the 
landowner is obtained. From a biological perspective, release of adult mammals outside of their 
home range could lead to a decrease in survival and possible spread of disease. This policy 
encourages all releases to be conducted within two miles of the initial capture. However, if potential 
human conflicts prevent return to the area of capture, release distances specified in this policy will be 
allowed. See General Guidelines and Releasable Wildlife on page 2. 
 
Deer 
 
Release of rehabilitated deer at the initial site of capture is usually impractical due to the difficulties 
of transporting deer. Rehabilitators licensed for deer should have facilities that allow orphans to be 
raised with as little human contact as possible. Fawns may be released on site gradually to allow for 
assimilation into the local population. It is rare that adult injured deer can be rehabilitated, but release 
at the facility is generally the least traumatic for the animal. Transportation of deer to a distant 
release site is discouraged because of possible further stress and injury to the animal. 
 
Bears and Bobcats 
 
Handling and rehabilitation of these animals is limited to a few licensed rehabilitators and is 
conducted in close consultation with NJDFW. All bobcat and black bear releases must be 
coordinated with NJDFW. 
 
Fox, Coyote, Beaver and Otter 
 
Handling and rehabilitation of these animals is limited to a few licensed rehabilitators and is 
conducted in close consultation with NJDFW. 
 
Rabies Vector Species 
 
Handling and rehabilitation of bats is limited to a few licensed rehabilitators and is conducted in 
close consultation with NJDFW. Bats are protected under the Endangered and Nongame Species 
Conservation Act and therefore may not be controlled by lethal means. Evictions and exclusions of 
bats should not be conducted between May 1 and July 30 (unless there is an imminent public health 
threat determined by the Dept. of Health) to prevent injury and death to young bats. 
 
Raccoons, skunks, fox and woodchucks are currently classified as rabies vector species for the 
raccoon rabies strain currently endemic in New Jersey. If release at site of capture for raccoons, 
skunks, foxes and woodchucks is impossible, the following restrictions apply. 
 
 


Rehabilitated Juvenile Rabies Vector Species 
 
All young of the year must be released within the county of origin in suitable habitat and with 
permission of the landowner. 
 
Adult Rabies Vector Species 
 
Releases of adult rabies vector species must take place within the township of origin in suitable 
habitat and with permission from the landowner. No releases within the township may be greater 
than a 10-mile distance from the capture site for raccoons and foxes, and 5 miles for skunks and 
woodchucks. 
 
Landowner Permission 
 
No release of animals is permitted on federal, state, county or municipal land without prior 
permission. Release of animals is not allowed on private properties without the permission of the 
landowner. If no private land is available for release or release according to this policy is not 
possible, NJDFW may approve a release on the closest or most appropriate state Wildlife 
Management Area on a case by case basis.