State guide
Maine
Maine animal control is usually municipal: official city and town pages say each municipality appoints an Animal Control Officer, often working through police or public safety. Wildlife conflicts and injured wildlife are handled through the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, with licensed wildlife rehabilitators and Animal Damage Control agents used heavily in the field.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who handles animal control locally
- Usually towns and cities handle animal control through a municipal Animal Control Officer, often within police or public safety rather than county government.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Maine guidance says animal bites are not reportable to Maine CDC, but any person bitten by an animal suspected of rabies must immediately notify the municipality where the bite occurred.
- State rabies contact
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Disease Surveillance Epidemiology Program
Official resources in Maine
Official public guidance on rabies exposure, who to call for domestic animals and wildlife, and Maine CDC’s role.
Official state wildlife page explaining when wildlife really needs help and how to find licensed help.
Official information on Maine’s wildlife rehabilitation program and permit requirements.
Official state page for ACO forms and resources, including the Animal Bite Report.
Key facts for Maine
- Bangor’s official page says each municipality is required to appoint an Animal Control Officer to enforce local and state laws.
- Maine CDC says for a domestic-animal exposure, you should contact your local Animal Control Officer.
- Maine law guidance says animal bites are not required to be reported to Maine CDC, but a person bitten by an animal suspected of rabies must immediately notify the municipality where it happened.
- MDIFW says for deer, bear, moose, or turkey showing serious injury signs, contact a biologist or game warden.
- MDIFW says for other species, contact a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator or Animal Damage Control agent.
Local animal control offices in Maine
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Control Officer Penobscot County | Bangor | 207-947-7382 | City animal control enforces local and state animal laws through the Bangor Police Department. |
| Animal Control Officer Androscoggin County | Lewiston | 207-513-3111 | City page says the officer handles barking dogs, stray dogs, neglect and abuse complaints, injured animals, ordinance enforcement, and rabies-prevention education. |
| Animal Control Androscoggin County | Auburn | (207) 333-6650 | Auburn Police lists animal control in Support Services; the animal-control page says complaints about domestic, nondomestic, or wild animals go through the non-emergency line. |
| Animal Control Officer Cumberland County | South Portland | 207-799-5511, ext. 7253 | City page says the ACO assists with lost, sick, found, or injured animals and keeps animal-bite records. |
| Animal Control Officer Cumberland County | Scarborough | (207) 730-4318 | Town page says the ACO enforces town ordinances and state animal welfare laws and handles wild animal nuisance calls. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If the animal is domestic, call your local municipal Animal Control Officer first; if wildlife is involved, use MDIFW’s injured/orphaned wildlife guidance.
- After a possible rabies exposure, notify the municipality where the bite occurred and keep the animal available for local animal-control follow-up.
- For nuisance wildlife in or around a building, MDIFW recommends eliminating attractants or hiring an Animal Damage Control agent.
Not seeing your office or county?
Not every office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Maine's population center, for comparison only):
- City of Rochester Animal Control Officer, New Hampshire · about 96 miles
- Rochester Police Department, New Hampshire · about 96 miles
- Dover Police Department animal control function, New Hampshire · about 99 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Maine CDC Rabies
Website →Phone: (800) 821-5821 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Maine page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.