Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch

Many of us move out of the city because we prefer to be among more wild landscapes, and to share our backyards with wild creatures. We love watching the birds and butterflies, and the deer and the bunnies. But sometimes when we try to attract these animals others also show up for some free grub, including javelina, skunks, and even bears. Sometimes these opportunists are merely an annoyance, but sometimes they can be dangerous to us or our children or pets. Some of these animals are capable of carrying diseases such as rabies, distemper, and leptospirosis. Below we present some general guidelines for living well with our wild neighbors.

Guideline #1: Be tolerant. Most of our wild neighbors are simply going about their daily business, and not trying to irritate us. All creatures have a role in the local ecology. If we leave them alone, they will usually go on their way. If we are attracting wildlife, even unintentionally, then it is up to us to make the changes to reduce any potential conflicts.

Guideline #2: Don’t feed the wildlife. For most wild animals, every day is a struggle to find food. Food put out intentionally or unintentionally by people is a real bonanza for wildlife. But feeding wildlife is problematic in many ways:

Many of the foods we try to feed animals are not good for them, and can cause health problems including tooth decay. A mammal with a sore mouth will have trouble eating, and may starve.
Animals learn to associate people with food, and can lose their natural fear of humans. This may lead to them becoming more aggressive in trying to obtain food, resulting in possible injury.
Attracting some animals to our yards may also attract their predators, or other animals we would rather not share our homes with. For example, feeding birds may also attract rodents, which in turn may attract coyotes or bobcats. Likewise, javelinas are also attracted to bird seed, and mountain lions may follow the javelinas. If you feed birds, keep bird seed out of reach of other animals. Use a platform under the feeder to catch spilled seed.
Dog and cat food are very attractive to hungry skunks, raccoons, rodents, coyotes, and javelina. Feed your pets inside, make sure there are no leftovers after they finish eating, or make sure no other animals can get to the pet food bowls.
Garbage attracts bears, raccoons, skunks, and other wildlife. Store your garbage securely where animals cannot get to it. If you have garbage pickup service, don’t place it on the curb until the morning of pickup.
Fruit trees also attract bears, raccoons, coatis, skunks, javelina and other wildlife. Make sure your fruit trees are fenced off, using electric fence if necessary, to keep wildlife out.
Some ornamental shrubs, grasses, flowers, and trees are very attractive to deer, rabbits, and javelina. An electric fence is the most effective means to keep these animals out, but planting vegetation that is less attractive may be a better option. Your local nursery may have suggestions on plants that are not desirable to deer or rabbits.

Guideline #3: Don’t keep wildlife as pets. This is illegal in many areas, and requires special permits in other areas. Most wild animals do not make good pets, and are often abandoned as they get older and owners realize they got into more than they could handle. Often these animals lack the skills necessary to find food and avoid predators. They may become dangerous to other people or pets, or may die a slow death from starvation.

Guideline #4: Reduce shelter for nuisance animals. Dense vegetation and debris piles, including brush, old tires, compost bins, and even wood piles provide secure housing for a number of animals. Skunks and opossums in particular are fond of debris piles. These animals seek out a quiet shelter in which to spend the day. If you don’t want these animals around, the simplest thing to do is remove food and shelter. Likewise, holes under houses and sheds are ideal hiding places for pack rats, rock squirrels, and skunks. Close off any potential entrances, including vent holes and chimneys (which can attract raccoons) using hardware cloth or wire mesh. If you think the animal may be inside, wait until it has left for the evening, or put up a one-way door (see below) which will allow the animal to leave but not return. Do not do this if you suspect baby animals may be present, as it might result in their starvation if their mother cannot return to them. The safest time to close off entrances to potential wildlife is from September to March.

Guideline #5: Control and vaccinate your pets. Free roaming cats are estimated to kill millions of birds and small mammals every year. Free roaming dogs are known to kill or maim deer and livestock. Dogs and cats may pick up or spread diseases to wildlife, or may be injured by coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, bears or javelina. Please keep your house cats inside, and keep your dogs controlled when outdoors. Also make sure your pet’s vaccinations are current, which protects not only you and your pets, but also the local wildlife.

Guideline #6: Relocation is the last resort. Trapping and relocating an animal from your yard may seem like a humane thing to do, but it can be anything but humane. Relocated animals suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, and immediately head for home. They no longer know where food, water, and shelter are, and no longer know the safe places to hide from predators. They are much more likely to suffer from dehydration and starvation, or get hit by cars or killed by predators as they try to get home to familiar ground. Mortality rates among translocated animals are very high. In addition, the areas in which the animals are released usually have residents of the same species already living there. Suddenly adding new competitors is stressful for both the residents and the translocated animals. Relocating animals can also spread disease, particularly rabies. If you absolutely must get rid of the animal, call you local wildlife agency which can recommend a licensed trapper to move the animal.

Guideline #7: Never use poison! Rat and mouse poisons are easy to obtain and apply, leading us to believe it’s an easy solution. But poisons cause tremendous suffering not only in the animals we are trying to get rid of, but they are often consumed by other animals, including our pets, which are then exposed to the poisons. A recent study in California found a large number of bobcats and coyotes suffering from poisoning, not directed at them, but at rats in residential areas. Eagles, owls, hawks, magpies, raccoons, otters, and weasels are all animals that have died from eating rodents killed with poisons. There are plenty of other solutions available, so that poisoning is not necessary.

Animals are usually attracted to our yards by food, shelter, or water. Remove these attractants, and the animals should leave you alone.