How Safe is the Wildlife in your Community?

Spring is commonly the time of year that Community Facebook pages and news outlets light up with announcements of wildlife sightings in suburban areas. There is a coyote pack in the neighborhood. Take your pets inside.It can be disconcerting to see a coyote, fox, raccoon, or skunk randomly walking down your street, or hanging out in your yard. In most cases, it is harmless. What are the risks and how can you reduce the chances that you will have a run-in with wildlife this spring?

New England Wildlife

To start, it is important to note that seeing wildlife does not necessarily mean there is a problem. We often share habitat areas or at least have habitats that abut each other. Don't immediately panic when you encounter foxes, raccoons, or other critters. Along with skunks, coyotes, opossum, woodchucks, and voles, there are a wide variety of wildlife that we need to be aware of in our communities.

What Are the Risks?

Staying safe while living in close proximity to wildlife is fairly simple. You don't bother them and they won't bother you. Give these creatures a wide berth and you should be fine.There are, however, some things to consider if you often see or encounter critters around your property. First and foremost, there are diseases that are associated with wild animals. Illnesses that humans can get from wildlife include rabies, plague, and Lyme disease. People can catch these diseases from the droppings of infected animals, by touching or feeding wildlife, or by getting bitten.Your pets are also at risk from wildlife. The risks include the spread of diseases, or even getting physically attacked, or bitten. If you are aware that wildlife frequent your yard, especially at night, be cautious when letting your dog out without supervision, or at least put a light on that could spook a critter who has wandered into your yard.Another risk is catching a critter off guard, which could cause aggression. For example, taking the garbage out one night, you encounter a skunk feasting on your trash. If you scare the critter enough you will get sprayed. If it is a raccoon, you could be charged, scratched, or even bitten. Be especially wary of startling wildlife as you never know how it will react. The best advice is to slowly back away from the area and go inside until the critter has moved on.

Safety Measures

Wildlife encounters in our region can be dangerous. Due to this, the state has compiled a list of safety measures that you will want to practice. Here is a quick summary of things you can do to keep your family and pets safe from wildlife.

• Never deliberately leave food out for wildlife other than birdseed. This can not only encourage visits to your property, but also make wildlife act tame which could lead to bold behaviors.
• Feed domestic pets indoors.
• Keep your trash and grill area clean and well maintained. Seal containers and clean up meat or grease drippings.
• Clean up spilled birdseed whenever possible.
• Install sensor lights for when you venture outdoors at night when many of these critters are hunting for food.

Questions or comments about wildlife in your area? Give Pest-End a call or check out our Facebook page.