Non-native means one thing, protected native means another, and the difference decides what's legal in your yard. Here's the plain-English version — with the honest caveats.
Whether you can legally do something about the animal in your yard often comes down to one distinction: is it a protected native, or a non-native? That single line runs through almost every wildlife question we get in Palm Beach County, and getting it wrong is how well-meaning people end up on the wrong side of the rules.
This is a plain-English overview, not legal advice, and it can't replace the actual regulations or a call to the relevant authority. Rules change and specifics matter, so treat this as orientation and confirm anything binding before you act on it.
The line that decides everything: native vs. non-native
Native species generally carry protection — some of it strong federal protection, as with native ducks and geese. Non-native species are the ones where removal and management tend to be on the table, precisely because they don't belong here and aren't protected the same way. That's why correct identification isn't a formality; it's the first legal step. Touch the wrong animal because you misread native for invasive and you've turned a yard chore into a violation.
How it plays out species by species
The abstract rule gets concrete fast when you line up the animals we actually deal with.
- Green iguanas — non-native, handled under specific state rules; removal is allowed but there are right and wrong ways to do it.
- Cane toads — non-native, no season or protection, removable year-round.
- Muscovy ducks — non-native, domestic-origin; a USFWS control order allows removal and nest-and-egg management.
- Egyptian geese — non-native and invasive; handled under the applicable state and federal rules for non-native birds.
- Native ducks and geese — federally protected and off-limits; you cannot remove these.
- Raccoons and opossums — native, handled under Florida's nuisance-wildlife rules, which limit relocation.
The humane-handling and relocation rules
Even where removal is allowed, how it's done is regulated. Florida's nuisance-wildlife rules put real limits on relocating animals, which is a big reason exclusion — letting an animal leave and sealing it out — is often the right answer for natives like opossums rather than hauling one across the county. Traps can't be left unchecked, and dispatching an animal has to be done correctly and humanely. 'It's my property' doesn't override any of that.
Why the distinction is worth respecting
The reason we hedge before touching anything isn't caution for its own sake — it's that the penalties and the ethics both sit on the native-vs-non-native line. Removing a protected native bird you mistook for an invasive is a genuine legal problem, and mishandling even a legally removable animal can be too. This is exactly why identification comes first, why we tell people straight when a situation needs a closer look, and why 'any honest company will tell you so' when a bird is off-limits. Confirm the specifics for your situation with the relevant authority; this guide points you in the right direction but isn't the last word.
Questions we hear
Can I remove any animal from my own property?
No. The key line is native vs. non-native. Non-native species like iguanas, cane toads, Muscovy ducks, and Egyptian geese can generally be removed under the applicable rules, while protected natives — federally protected ducks and geese among them — are off-limits. Even where removal is allowed, how it's done is regulated. This is general information, not legal advice.
Why does identifying the animal matter so much legally?
Because the same action can be legal or a violation depending on the species. Removing a non-native Muscovy is fine under its control order; removing a protected native duck that looks similar is a legal problem. That's why correct identification is the first step and why reputable work hedges before touching anything it isn't sure about.
Can I trap an animal and relocate it across town?
Often not the way people assume. Florida's nuisance-wildlife rules put real limits on relocating animals, which is a big reason exclusion — letting the animal leave and sealing it out — is usually the better answer for natives like opossums. Traps also can't be left unchecked, and dispatching an animal must be done humanely. Confirm the specifics with the relevant authority; this isn't legal advice.
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