Humane Wildlife Services to Help People with Wildlife Conflicts

The HSUS has a new innovative program, Wild Neighbors®: Humane Wildlife Services™, launching in Washington, D.C. on June 26, which will provide humane wildlife eviction and removal services for homeowners, accompanied by guaranteed re-entry prevention and customer education often not offered by other wildlife removal companies. HWS benefits wildlife, homeowners and the environment.

Conflicts between people and wild animals are dramatically on the rise.  People want—and deserve—immediate and successful solutions to their wildlife problems, while being assured that wild animals are humanely handled and treated. 

HWS embraces biologically appropriate and ecologically sound strategies for people who seek effective solutions—homeowners, businesses and communities experiencing conflicts with wild animals. Whether it is a squirrel living in an attic, a raccoon in a chimney, a beaver damming a road culvert or geese loafing at the local marina, HWS will successfully and humanely resolve people's problems while respecting and protecting the lives of the animals involved. 

According to the program's director, wildlife conflict resolution specialist John Griffin, "The current business landscape of 'nuisance' wildlife control ranges from small mom and pop operations to large franchises and they vary widely in their approaches and in the ethical principles that underpin their practices. Humane Wildlife Services™ will set new standards for nuisance wildlife control with our ultimate goal of changing standard practices across the board to be more humane."

"The traditional lethal approach to resolution is contrary to the interests of most people who favor solutions that do not harm animals. Unfortunately, the majority of businesses currently engaged in wildlife problem-solving use lethal control, thinking it is the only option available to them," Griffin explains. 

Starting in Washington, DC (June 26), followed by Cape Cod, Mass., later this year, HWS will build a network of wildlife removal and control businesses across the country dedicated to making humane wildlife control a national standard. 

HWS is up and running in the D.C. Metro area, where people can call 1-866-9HUMANE or click here for help.

On a for-fee-basis, the highly experienced and knowledgeable HWS personnel will provide a wide range of exclusion, eviction and state-of-art prevention services. Through its wildlife hotline service, HWS will also offer free advice for solving conflicts that do not require interventions. Griffin explains, "People may call thinking that they have a raccoon problem with their trash cans. However this is a trash problem, not a raccoon problem, although some companies may try to sell trapping jobs as if it were. HWS will work with people to improve trash security and handling, but we will never advocate removal or control of wildlife where human negligence is the cause of conflict."

HWS education:

Studies show 40 percent of calls to state agencies regarding wildlife "problems" actually do not involve problems, but rather are found to be misunderstandings of wildlife behaviors. For those common misunderstandings, HWS will address concerns over the phone providing "phone solves" and printed material to many common wildlife problems. 

HWS Wildlife Removal:

HWS will use techniques that are scientifically sound and proven to maximize the chances that family units remain intact. Both require extensive knowledge of the animal's behavior, special equipment, and training in removal techniques that limit the trauma inflicted on the wildlife. HWS personnel are highly trained and experienced in these techniques.

HWS Wildlife Entry Prevention:

HWS will assess a home for wildlife entry points and install preventive measures, including chimney caps or vent screens. The exclusion strategies used are proven to inhibit any attempts at re-entry, and are backed by a guarantee.  

HWS Contract Services:

HWS will offer an annual contract for landlords, property managers and seasonal residents, as well as resident homeowners. The contract will ensure that a property is protected from wildlife entry year-round.

Humane Wildlife Services™ was developed by The HSUS around proven strategies addressing the needs of homeowners, businesses, and communities experiencing wildlife conflicts. HWS solves people's problems while respecting and protecting the lives of the animals involved. For more information, visit humanesociety.org/humaneservices.

Updated April 21, 2009