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NUISANCE? WHAT'S A NUISANCE?
Someone causing trouble, annoyance, inconvenience. That someone may be a goose, woodpecker, ground or tree squirrel, raccoon, coyote, bear, or even a cougar. If you have a problem with the wildlife residing around
you, consider the alternative for these wild and instinctive creatures: eviction and/or death.
The alternatives available to nuisance wildlife are not too unlike those available to some humans who happened to live in the wrong place at the wrong time. Because we are usually smarter and stronger than most other
forms of life we know, we usually win when war is declared on animals who are just doing what comes naturally.
Humans use several ways to eliminate a nuisance: complaining to government officials and requesting a depredation permit, poison bait, traps that maim, traps that kill from blunt trauma, glue that arrests a victim
while it slowly starves to death, traps that contain the animal -- then, relocate the offender to a site where they may not be able to establish a new residence because of competition for food and territory.
There are ways to discourage nuisance activities which seem to bother most people. These recommendations can be accomplished without causing serious harm to the "intruder."
Geese
— when their presence is not desired: DO NOT FEED THEM or make food available. A low fence can be attractive to you and a deterrent to geese on your lawn. The fertilizer they produce is enjoyed by most grasses and easily hosed down. Call WSI and schedule a learning experience about Canada geese.
Woodpeckers
— when your building has been chosen: RAPTOR SILHOUETTE, STREAMERS, NOISE, BRIGHT LIGHTS, and continuous vigilance may help. Prey recognize predators. Woodpeckers instinctively know not to hang out with hawks. Put a raptor silhouette in the nearest window above the site being attacked. If you have streamers tacked to the area where they are pounding, this movement with the wind will make them leery of staying. Noise to them is music to us. If all else fails add a bright trouble light to the immediate area shining out toward their approach to your building. And by all means COVER up the holes (no matter how small) to prevent other critters from moving in. Call WSI (916) 525-5960 and find out WHY these flyers have chosen YOU!
Ground and Tree Squirrels
— when your house becomes a nursery: first determine what time of day or night the animal is most active and identify what it is. Observe the adult's entrance and exit locations. Have materials in place to do repairs, and, if at all possible, give the adult a place to go with her babies (a small insulated bird house with an entrance accessible to her might work. Mount it close to an access site, the last one to be closed off). Then, close off all accesses except one. The last one available should have alternative housing adjacent to it. Begin the eviction during the animal's most active time - day or night - by offending their senses: SIGHT, SOUND, and SMELL. Bright lights in their nesting area, continuous noise (radio, tapes, TV), pinesol or ammonia soaked rags. Any and all of these will force MOM to relocate her precious babies. Once she has moved her babies to their new home, CLOSE OFF THE LAST ACCESS!
Raccoons
— when a new housemate becomes too noisy at night: warm, dark, and quiet is how they like their home. So, if your attic, crawl space under your residence, or deck is visited or occupied by these masked predators, you do have an option if their company is not desired. These are mammals, and as such will depart an offensive area like the squirrels. Close off all access points except one, and then offend their senses of SIGHT, SOUND and SMELL in the same manner. Raccoons are nocturnal, so please, do the eviction at night and they will stand a chance in their normal time of activity. Once out, CLOSE OFF THE LAST ACCESS!
Coyotes
— when you think they are coming too close: never put your trash out at night. Never let your small dog or cat out without your supervision. Coyotes will only come close if they believe food is accessible. If you live on a busy street, and other animals are hit by cars, the coyote will take the remains and survive another night. That is if they, too, are not swiped by our fast-moving machines.
Black Bears
— when you think they are coming too close: never put your trash out at night. Make arrangements with your neighbors: call the disposal company and request a bear-proof trash bin. REMEMBER -- A FED BEAR IS A DEAD BEAR! If this is not possible, then make your trash inedible: pour pinesol or ammonia over the food you are disposing. Ziplock bags help keep the odor down for you until it goes outside for collection. Please call WSI and let us know when and where the bears are.
Cougars
— when you think they are too close: if they are within your view - they are too close! This predator, however, is usually monitoring its territory and keeping it secure from competition. If you know you are in cougar territory, DO NOT TIE YOUR DOG DOWN and leave him unattended and DO NOT HIKE ALONE! The following suggestions should help and please, call WSI if you spot a mountain lion. For more information check out "How do you avoid conflict with cougars?"
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