Raccoons are one of the most adaptable and widespread wildlife species in Arkansas, showing up in rural farmsteads, suburban backyards, and urban neighborhoods alike. When they start raiding chicken coops, tearing up gardens, or getting into your attic, the question of what you can legally do about them becomes urgent fast.
The short answer is yes — it is legal to trap and kill raccoons in Arkansas. But the longer answer involves understanding which permits you need, which methods are allowed, and how the situation on your property affects your options. This guide breaks down Arkansas law so you can act confidently and stay on the right side of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Are Raccoons Protected in Arkansas?
Raccoons are not a federally protected species, and they carry no endangered or threatened status in Arkansas. Under Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) rules, raccoons are classified as furbearers, a category that also includes badger, beaver, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, red fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, river otter, spotted skunk, striped skunk, and weasel.
That furbearer classification means raccoons are managed wildlife — not unprotected pests you can deal with any way you choose, but also not animals with the kind of protection that would prevent you from taking action when they cause damage. The AGFC sets the rules for how, when, and under what circumstances you can hunt, trap, or kill them…