At one time or another, most of us have had to deal with wildlife invading our yards. Usually it’s because we have purposely or inadvertently provided what the animals need: food, water, or shelter. Unfortunately, the wonder and the cuteness soon wear off and you are left with unwelcome wildlife that are causing damage and carrying parasites and diseases into your yard.

The University of New Hampshire offers some basic guidelines for dealing with wild animals in and around your home. 

Don’t treat wild animals like pets or keep them around for entertainment

Encourage wild animals to remain wild. Do not feed them around your home (see “Stop Providing Food for Local Wildlife”), and don’t encourage them to stay. Make loud noises to scare animals away.

If you have to move a dead animal, wear heavy gloves

If you have to move a dead animal, wear heavy glove to protect yourself from bites and rabies. The animal may not be dead and could manage to bite or scratch you. The rabies virus can survive in saliva and central nervous system tissue for hours after a rabid animal has died. Don’t let your skin touch any part of a dead animal.

Don’t trap animals and release them away from your home

While this sounds like the humane thing to do, this practice makes the animal easy prey for predators or can condemn it to a slow death by starvation. Animals cannot easily protect themselves or find food and shelter when dropped into a new location. In some states, Massachusetts for example, it’s illegal to relocate a wild animal.

Most nesting birds are protected by federal law

It’s illegal to possess a migratory bird, or to kill it, remove it, or even touch its nest without a special permit. If you have nesting birds, you need professional advice before attempting to take matters into your own hands.

Contact a Licensed Wildlife Specialist

If you’re having a problem with a raccoon, opossum, squirrels, birds, or other nuisance wildlife, give Colonial a call. We’re more than exterminators, we also specialize in nuisance wildlife control. When you have a problem with wild animals, you should contact your local animal control officer or a pest control company, like Colonial, that is licensed to trap and remove wildlife.