Wildlife Control Operators - WCO Permit

What should you do if you have a nuisance problem?

If you are experiencing wildlife causing a nuisance on your property, contact a permitted wildlife control operator or contact ODFW if you wish to conduct the trapping yourself. A WCO permit is not required for the onsite capture and euthanasia of species defined as "predatory animals".

View active WCO list here

Local and regional ODFW offices

"Furbearers" means beaver, bobcat, fisher, marten, mink, muskrat, otter, raccoon, red fox, and gray fox.

"Predatory animals" means coyotes, rabbits, rodents (except beaver), feral swine, Starling, House sparrows, and Eurasian Collared Doves which are or may be destructive to agricultural crops, products and activities.

"Unprotected Mammals" means badger, coyote, gophers (Thomomys bottae, T. bulbivorus, T. mazama, T. talpoides and T. townsendii), moles (Scapanus townsendii, S. orarius and S. latimanus), mountain beaver (Apolodontia rufa), yellowbellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris), nutria, opossum, porcupine, spotted skunk, striped skunk, and weasel.

For any person owning, leasing, occupying, possessing or having charge of or dominion over any land (or an agent of this person) who is taking or attempting to take coyote, gophers, mountain beaver (boomer), marmot, nutria, or porcupine on that property, these six species are considered to be predatory animals.

Prohibited species listed in OAR 635-056-0050 such as Nutria, Eastern Gray Squirrels, Eastern Fox Squirrels, and Virginia Opossum must be euthanized and cannot be released onsite.

How to become a Wildlife Control Operator?

A WCO permit is required for any individual, business owner, or the business owner's designee charging a fee to control furbearers, unprotected mammals (excluding moles) and western gray squirrels causing damage, creating a public nuisance or posing a public health or safety concern in incorporated city limits and associated urban development areas.

A permit is also required for the offsite transportation of any live wildlife on behalf of private property owners or legal occupant of the property.

A WCO permit is not required for the onsite capture and the onsite euthanasia of species defined as "predatory animals". Predatory animals" means coyotes, rabbits, rodents, and feral swine which are or may be destructive to agricultural crops, products and activities (ORS 610.002 & 610.105). This definition is applicable where wildlife is taken under the authority of one who owns leases, occupies, possesses or has charge or dominion over the land. Muskrats and western gray squirrels (Sciuris griseus) causing damage on private property are defined as predatory animals under ORS 610.002.

A private property owner that chooses to trap (excluding "Predatory animals") and lawfully remove an animal from his or her property needs an ODFW permit, but not a WCO permit. Such permits are free of charge and can be obtained by contacting the nearest ODFW office.

However, ODFW recommends that private property owners unfamiliar with trapping wildlife seek the help and advice of professional WCOs before attempting to trap or remove wildlife, in order to best protect the welfare of the animal and the health and safety of people.

New WCO	WCO Renewal	Other Information
WCO Permit FAQ's (pdf) WCO Training Manual (pdf) OAR 635-435 WCO New Application (pdf) Affidavit (pdf) Reporting: Reporting FAQs (pdf) Reporting Link	Renewal WCO Renewal Link WCO Continuing Education (pdf) Employee Employee Change Form (pdf)	Acceptable management practices for bat control activities in structures (pdf) Living with Wildlife Furbearer Trapping and Hunting National White-Nose Syndrome Decontamination Protocol (pdf) White-nosed syndrome fact sheet (pdf) White-nosed syndrome brochure (pdf) Oregon threatened and endangered species List (pdf) Sensitive species information (pdf) Most common rehabbed species (pdf) Licensed wildlife rehabilitator OSP Fish & Wildlife Division

Wildlife License, Permits and Applications

Oregon Administrative Rules:

• Holding or propagating protected wildlife
• For sale, purchase or exchange of wildlife parts
• For roadkill salvage 

Cervid Ranching

• Calving/Fawning Type 1 Cervid Propagation License Report Form (pdf)
• Transport Permit (pdf)
• Cervid Death Report Form (pdf)

Falconry

• About the program
• Materials

FUR DEALER LICENSE Application

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need a Fur Dealer License?
  Any person purchasing legally harvested raw pelts of furbearers must have a Fur Dealer License (ORS 497.218).
   
• What is a "raw pelt"?
  A raw pelt is any pelt that has not been processed or converted to any usable form beyond initial cleaning, stretching and drying.
   
• Do I need a Fur Dealer License to purchase a fur coat?
  No. The Fur Dealer License is for raw pelts only. Once the pelt is tanned, or fabricated into a finished product, the Fur Dealer license is no longer required.
   
• How do I obtain a Fur Dealer License Application?
  Contact any ODFW Wildlife District or Regional office or call the ODFW Licensing Section at (503) 947-6101 and ask for a Fur Dealer License application form. Send the completed application and fee to the address listed above. This license is issued from the ODFW Salem office only.
   
• What does a Fur Dealer License cost?
  The annual permit fee is $108.00, which includes an agent fee of $2.00 (ORS 497.022).
   
• What are the record keeping requirements for the Fur Dealer License?
  Records must be maintained at the business address of the Fur Dealer for a period of three years. The necessary information includes: the date, numbers and types of pelts purchased, sold or disposed of; tag number, species, the state issuing the tag, and year of tag issuance of the furbearing mammals requiring tags; the name and address of those from whom the pelts were obtained or to whom they were sold or otherwise transferred.
   
• When does the Fur Dealer License expire?
  The Fur Dealer License expires annually on December 31.
   
• How do I renew my Fur Dealer License?
  Renewal forms will be sent to you each year. Simply complete the renewal application form, note any changes that may have occurred and return the completed renewal application form with the $108.00 fee to the Licensing Section (address listed on renewal application).

HIDE/ANTLER DEALER LICENSE Application

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need a Hide/Antler Dealer License?
  Any person desiring to purchase or exchange deer, elk, and antelope hides or to purchase or exchange antlers for use in the manufacture of handcrafted items should have a Hide/Antler Dealer License (OAR 635-200-0050).
   
• Do I need a Hide/Antler Dealer License to sell my handcrafted items made of deer/elk hide or antlers?
  No. Once the antler or hide is processed or converted to another form, the Hide/Antler Dealer License is not necessary.
   
• Do I need a Hide/Antler Dealer License to sell my legally harvested deer/elk hide or antlers to a licensed Hide/Antler Dealer?
  No. Any person may sell or exchange the hide or cape of a deer, elk or antelope legally taken during an authorized hunting season. Also, any person may sell or exchange, to a licensed Hide/Antler Dealer, lawfully taken antlers which are detached from the skull, or if the skull is split apart between the antlers. Naturally shed antlers may be sold to a licensed Hide/Antler Dealer for use only in manufacturing handcrafted items from parts of those antlers. Handcrafted items do not include complete sets of antlers or whole heads and antlers, which are mounted for display and other purposes (OAR 635-200-0050).
   
• How do I obtain a Hide/Antler Dealer License Application?
  Contact any ODFW Wildlife District or Regional office or call the ODFW Licensing Section at (503) 947-6101 and ask for a Hide/Antler Dealer License application. Send the completed application and fee to the address listed on the top of the application. This license is issued from the ODFW Salem office only.
   
• What does a Hide/Antler Dealer License cost?
  The annual permit fee is $36.50, which includes an agent fee of $2.00 (ORS 497.022).
   
• What are the record keeping requirements for the Hide/Antler Dealer License?
  Records must be maintained at the business address of the Hide/Antler Dealer for a period of three years. The necessary information includes the date, numbers and kinds of hides or antlers purchased or exchanged, and the name and address of those from whom the items were acquired.
   
• When does the Hide/Antler Dealer License expire?
  The Hide/Antler Dealer License expires annually on December 31.

 

• How do I renew my Hide/Antler Dealer License?
  Renewal forms will be sent to you each year. Simply complete the renewal application form, note any changes that may have occurred and return the completed renewal application form with the $36.50 fee to the Licensing Section (address listed on the renewal application).

Roadkill Salvage Permit & Details

Scientific Taking Permit Application

• 2025 STP Annual Report Form (xlsx)
• 2026 STP Annual Report Form (xlsx)

Taxidermy Application

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need a Taxidermist License?
  Any person performing taxidermy of legally harvested wildlife for a fee must have a Taxidermist License. (ORS 497.238).
   
• Can I sell mounted wildlife with a Taxidermist License?
  A licensed taxidermist may sell a client's unclaimed, legally taken, mounted wildlife except migratory birds protected under federal law provided that:
  1. Upon completion, at least two written notices of intent to sell are sent to the client.
  2. Two months have passed since completion of the mount.
  3. The amount realized by the sale of a mount does not to exceed the original quoted price stated in writing, less any deposit received.
  4. Taxidermist possessing a Fur Dealer license may mount and sell legally taken furbearing animals.
      
• How do I obtain a Taxidermist License Application?
  Contact any ODFW Wildlife District or Regional office or call the ODFW Licensing Section at (503) 947-6101 and ask for a Taxidermist License application form. Send the completed application and fee to the address listed above. This license is issued from the ODFW Salem Headquarters office only.
   
• What does a Taxidermist License cost?
  The annual permit fee is $111.00, which includes an agent fee of $2.00 (ORS 497.022).
   
• What are the record keeping requirements for the Taxidermist License?
  Records must be maintained at the business address of the taxidermist for a period of three years. At the time of receiving wildlife for mounting, every licensed taxidermist shall:
  1. Record the date, number and kinds of wildlife received.
  2. Record the tag number and year of issuance of those furbearing mammals requiring tags.
  3. For game mammals and game birds requiring tags, record the confirmation number of electronic tags, record the date (month/day/year) and time (hour:minute) of issuance of paper tags.
  4. Record the date taken, the county or hunting unit and state where taken, and the name and address of the person who killed the wildlife.
  5. Record the name and address of the person from whom the wildlife is received and the quoted price for the taxidermy work.
• When does the Taxidermist License expire?
  The Taxidermist License expires annually on December 31.
   
• How do I renew my Taxidermist License?
  Renewal forms will be sent to you each year. Simply complete the renewal application form, note any changes that may have occurred and return the completed renewal application form with the $111.00 fee to the Licensing Section (address above).
• Taxidermy of Migratory Game Birds require permits from USFWS
• Taxidermy Mounts Registration Permit

Wildlife Holding and Prohibited Species

• Prior to contacting us, please review Division 44 and Division 56.
• Please contact Wildlife.Permits@ODFW.oregon.gov for more information.

Game Bird Propagation Application

• 2025 Game Bird Propagator List [rev. 05/19/2025] (pdf)

Wildlife Rehabilitation