Understanding Nuisance Animal Behavior

Posted by: Allen Canfield on Mon, 05 April 2004 18:07:43 (2315 Reads)

Many of us have had a close encounter in our own back yards. I am not speaking of flying saucers or aliens, but of our little friends in the woods. Something as cute and cuddly as a

raccoon or squirrel can quickly become a nuisance when encouraged by our activities.

Most of these encounters end as quickly as they begin, with the animal running for cover in the nearest thicket when discovered. Others, however, may take longer to move away or

even persist night after night for weeks.

Although annoying, all of these encounters can usually be grouped into three different categories which can then be easily dealt with. These categories are the presence of a food supply, presence of cover or shelter and truly accidental encounters.

The first category is when an animal visits due to a food source. If there is a food supply available in your yard, why would an animal go through the trouble of finding it else- where. Everything from table scraps in the trash, to drippings on the grill, to dog and cat food left in a bowl on the porch, will attract wild animals to our yards. This type of problem is usually the easiest to deal with. All that is needed to be done is to put the food away in an inaccessible area.

Keeping trash enclosed in a outbuilding or garage until the night or morning of pickup will greatly reduce the chances of animals becoming a problem. Providing only enough food to pets that can be eaten in one sitting will eliminate the

excess food that attracts animals. Once the attractant is taken away from the nuisance animal, regardless of species, it will be forced to go elsewhere to find food.

The second category includes animals that are using your yard or home as shelter. Piles of firewood, old lumber, lawn debris, or a damaged house exterior or foundation can provide animals a place in which they feel safe and pro-tected.

Removing these structures or at least rearranging them a couple of times a year will greatly reduce the chances that an animal will use them as shelter. Gaps in your home's exterior or foundation should be repaired as soon as possible, even before an animal arrives. Keep in mind that if an animal can't gain access,

it can't become a problem. The third main reason animals will come into our yards is due to pure accident. Animals, especially in the spring and fall, tend to travel more than in other times of the year. These travels include the search for mates in the spring, the dispersal of young in the fall, and the search for food sources and den

sites through out the year. If a food supply or shelter site is found near our homes, these animals will tend to stay around and may potentially become a nuisance. These types of encounters will usually pass with time, especially if no food or denning sites are found in your yard.

One thing to keep in mind when dealing with nuisance animals is that it is best to deal with the problem indirectly. Direct contact with a wild animal can be potentially dangerous. Wild animals , if pursued or handled, may become scared and defend themselves. In every nuisance situation it is best to remove the attractants (food, shelter, etc) that are present and let the animal leave on its own. In addition, federal and state laws exist which can lead to monetary penalties and possible jail time for harming protected species.

In the situations listed above, the suggested solutions should take care of any nuisance animals you may encounter. However, in the case of a truly persistent animal that appears to have no reason for being there, contact your local WVDNR District office or the USDA's Wildlife Services for further assistance.



*** Reposted from the West Virginia Wildlife Diversity News, Winter 2003, Volume 19, Number 4.

Writen by: Jeff Hajenga