Uninvited Wildlife
Preventive and Long Term Solutions
For "Living With Wildlife"
It takes two elements to make a
wildlife nuisance problem: people and wildlife. Each year, wildlife is being forced to
live closer to people or to compete with them for food, shelter and space. Common sense
solutions to what we consider a nuisance situation can help us share our environment
with wildlife.
RACCOONS
-
In chimney: lower a trouble light
with flasher disc and 60 watt light bulb inserted in socket, three-fourths of the way down
the chimney. Place radio n box, speaker side up (so it's almost against damper) inside
fireplace. Set dial to a talk station (not music). Raccoon may leave that night, or may
take a week or longer if animal has young. CAUTION: DO NOT LIGHT A FIRE TO TRY TO
SMOKE ANIMAL OUT! When vacated, cap chimney.
In attic: use clamp-on reflector
lights (with flasher disc). Use radio on talk station. When you suspect that animal is
gone, tack or staple a plastic garbage bag over entry hole (leave lights and radio going).
If the plastic is not broken through after three nights, repair hole. Keep lights and
radio going for several days in case animal decides to check area again. Monitor
frequently.
In crawl space or under the deck: use
same solution as for attic.
In garbage cans: garbage attracts
both domestic and wild creatures. If possible, keep it in a garage. If no garage, use
heavy garbage cans with tight fitting lids. Pour ammonia over garbage (each time you add
to it) and fasten lid with heavy rubber bungee cords.
SQUIRRELS
In chimney: usually a squirrel in
the chimney has fallen in by accident and has a difficult time climbing out. Try lowering
a thick, heavy rope or knotted sheets, so the animal can climb out. When gone, cap
chimney.
In attic: use same solution used
for raccoons in the attic except use clamp-on light with flasher disc above plastic or
blow-up great horned owl. Owls are their natural enemy and predator. Also use moth balls
around the perimeter of attic.
SKUNKS
- Under foundation: use a clamp-on reflector light
with flasher disc and a 25 or 40 watt bulb inserted in it. Place it over blow-up or
plastic great horned owl (the only predator of sk
 unks). Stake the owl with light near the
den of skunk. Turn light on at dusk and off in the morning. Move owl and light every other
day to prevent skunk from becoming used to it. Also, place ammonia soaked rag part way
into hole, leaving enough room for animal to exit. Freshen ammonia rag each day. Also
sprinkle flour in front of hole to show tracks exiting. When you suspect animal is gone,
stuff large plastic bag into hole and observe for disturbance. If none, then fill hole.
Continue with owl and light for one to two weeks afterwards.
- Digging up lawns: use same
solution as under foundation.
WOODPECKERS 
Doing damage to house: suspend
plastic great horned owl from overhang. Change position every other day. Attract
woodpeckers away from the house by placing a suet feeder well away from house. NOTE: Large
plastic bags or windsocks thumb-tacked to the overhang at least 8" out, can also
deter woodpeckers.
ANIMALS IN THE GARDEN -
Fence (should go partly under
ground). Low volt electric wire can be placed inside fence and around garden. For
persistent climbers, place apples, vegetable and fruit parings, etc., outside of the
fence. Blow-up snakes and owls have also been effective in deterring many animals.
(Remember to change their position in garden occasionally.) NOTE: Check local ordinances
for use of electric fence.
BATS
NOTE: It is illegal to live-trap
most wild animals without appropriate permits from the Illinois Department of
Conservation.
Trapping and relocating animals
is not recommended even when legal. It is only a short term solution. Animals are
territorial creatures and it is not long before another creature moves in to claim the
territory. Relocation causes stress for the animal, for young left behind and for the
existing populations at the place of release. It is illegal to relocate wild animals to
any Conservation District Sites or to State Parks.
SPRING ALERT
-
Do not separate mothers and babies!
Avoid serious problems. Do not trap during the Spring/Summer season (March through
September).
-
If you relocate a mother raccoon,
the babies starve and often die in inaccessible areas, creating an extremely foul odor.
-
If you trap and relocate the babies,
the mother will often destroy the nesting area in search of her family.
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