Find Humane Solutions to Conflicts with Your Wild Neighbors

Wild animals are a vital part of our lives in cities and suburbs, but where people and animals coexist, conflicts are bound to occur. Environmental responsibility and appreciation for the diversity of life demands humane, effective solutions to conflicts with wildlife. Here are some compassionate actions you can take:

• Education and tolerance. Learn more about the habits of the "nuisance" animal. You may find simple co-existence is your best option. This may be particularly appropriate when the inconvenience or damage is likely to be short-term or seasonal.
• Change human behavior. It will be easier for you to change than to get an animal to change. For example, to discourage "garbage raiding" by raccoons or other animals, place your trash cans at the curb on the day of pick-up rather than the night before. Store cans inside a shed or garage in between pick-ups.
• Change the environment. Make your home or yard less attractive to the animals you don't want there. Landscaping choices and habitat modification can encourage or discourage certain species. For example, encouraging native plants to establish in a lawn and keeping lawn size to a minimum are good approaches to dealing with mole problems. Deter snakes, skunks, or other animals by removing potential hiding places, such as rock and wood piles or storage sheds with space under the floor.
• Keep them out. Cut off access to the places where animals enter buildings—cap chimneys and seal holes, for example. Close off potential den sites under decks, porches, steps, and crawl spaces. Fence vulnerable gardens and trees or use netting to exclude birds and other animals from plants.
• Encourage them to move along. Use devices that flash, move, make noise, or spray water to scare animals away. Chemical repellents labeled for the species you want to discourage can scare animals with their scents or make potential food unpalatable. The HSUS has compiled "Manufacturers and Suppliers of Products Used to Resolve Wildlife Conflicts," a comprehensive list available free on our site (see Related Information).
• Live trap—as a last resort. When efforts to get an animal to move out of a building are unsuccessful, humanely live trap and release the animal nearby. Be sure to follow state and local laws. When dependent young may be present, special care must be taken to avoid orphaning them. Immediately repair the access points the animals used to get into the building so more animals do not simply move in.