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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 4. Conservation And Natural Resources
Agency 15. Department of Wildlife Resources
Chapter 20. Definitions and Miscellaneous: In General
1/18/2026

4VAC15-20-160. Nuisance species designated.

The board hereby designates the following species as nuisance species pursuant to § 29.1-100 of the Code of Virginia.

1. Mammals.

a. House mouse (Mus musculus);

b. Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus);

c. Black rat (Rattus rattus);

d. Coyote (Canis latrans);

e. Feral hog (Sus scrofa; any swine that are wild or for which no proof of ownership can be made);

f. Nutria (Myocastor coypus); and

g. Woodchuck (Marmota monax).

2. Birds.

a. European starling (Sturnus vulgaris);

b. English (house) sparrow (Passer domesticus);

c. Pigeon (Rock Dove) (Columba livia); and

d. Other nonnative species as defined in the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 2004 and regulated under 50 CFR 10.13.

Statutory Authority

§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR325-01-1 § 16, eff. October 15, 1990; amended, Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 1997; Volume 13, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1997; Volume 17, Issue 19, eff. July 4, 2001; Volume 19, Issue 1, eff. October 23, 2002; Volume 22, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2006; Volume 31, Issue 2, eff. September 1, 2014; Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.

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