State guide
Maryland
Maryland animal control is usually run by counties and some cities through animal services or animal care and control agencies. For wildlife, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources directs residents to licensed wildlife rehabilitators and USDA Wildlife Services, while rabies control authority sits with Maryland health officials and local health departments.
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 county or city animal services or animal care and control offices handle domestic-animal complaints, while Maryland’s bite-reporting rule sends reports immediately to local police or sheriff’s departments in most counties.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Maryland COMAR says anyone with knowledge of a bite or non-bite animal contact to a person must report it immediately by telephone or in person to the local police or sheriff’s department, except in Frederick County where it goes to the animal control center.
- State rabies contact
- Maryland Department of Health, Center for Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases / State Public Health Veterinarian
Official resources in Maryland
Official state page for nuisance wildlife, sick or injured wildlife, and the hotline used for wildlife complaints and referrals.
Official Maryland list finder for licensed wildlife rehabilitators by county.
Official Maryland rabies page describing the state’s work with local health departments and exposure follow-up.
Official regulation on how bite and non-bite animal exposures to humans are reported and routed.
Key facts for Maryland
- Maryland DNR says nuisance, injured, or sick wildlife can be reported through USDA Wildlife Services at 1-877-463-6497.
- Maryland DNR says homeowners may not trap and shoot wildlife outside regulated seasons unless the animal is actively causing damage or poses an obvious public-safety threat.
- Maryland says relocation of raccoons, skunks, and foxes is prohibited under COMAR 08.03.15.24.
- COMAR says a person who knows of a bite or non-bite animal contact must report it immediately to the local police or sheriff’s department, except in Frederick County.
- Maryland health law gives authority to the public health veterinarian and local health officer over the disposition of animals that bite or otherwise expose rabies.
Local animal control offices in Maryland
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's County Animal Services Division Prince George's County | Upper Marlboro | Not published* | County animal services provides sheltering, field operations, and responses to cruelty complaints, injured animals, nuisance animals, sick animals, and vicious animals. |
| Anne Arundel County Animal Services Anne Arundel County | Not published* | (410) 222-8900 | County animal services promotes humane treatment and safe human-animal interactions; the county FAQ says bite information is forwarded to bite investigation and the health department. |
| Baltimore City Office of Animal Control | Baltimore | Not published* | Baltimore City code establishes an Office of Animal Control within the Department of Health. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- For nuisance or injured wildlife, use the Maryland wildlife hotline or the DNR rehabilitator finder instead of trying to trap or keep wildlife yourself.
- If a person is bitten or otherwise exposed, report it immediately to local police, sheriff, or the local animal control route specified for that county.
- For rabies testing or PEP decisions, work through the local health department and Maryland Department of Health rather than sending specimens on your own.
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 Maryland's population center, for comparison only):
- DC Health Division of Animal Services - Animal Control Facility, District of Columbia · about 19 miles
- DC Health Division of Animal Services - Administrative Office, District of Columbia · about 19 miles
- DC Animal Shelter at DC Village, District of Columbia · about 19 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Maryland DNR Wildlife Problems
Website →Phone: (877) 463-6497 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Maryland Manual: county governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Maryland page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.