Do you have a raccoon in your chimney? A skunk under your deck? Critters munching the garden?

Humane Solutions to wildlife conflicts are based on respect and understanding of our urban wildlife. Permanent and effective solutions are possible without resorting to lethal control methods or trapping and relocating. Conflicts are not permanently resolved by removing the animal.

Larimer Humane Society discourages the use of live traps to relocate problem animals, and we may need to receive approval from the Colorado Division of Wildlife to do so. Relocating individual animals away from their home range, without altering the habitat, is merely a short-term solution. Relocating animals will cause more long-term problems for the homeowner by actually increasing the local population. By removing existing animals you invite others to come in and compete for the new resources created by the available territory, resulting in more animals than you had before in a relatively short period of time. Due to increased resources, litter size tends to increase as well. If an animal is removed from a habitat, other types of animals requiring the same resources may move into the area to take advantage of the increased food/resource availability.

All wild animals depend on three things to survive: food, water and shelter. When these are eliminated, the animal will move elsewhere to meet these needs.

Food

• Bird seed
• Pet food – raccoons and skunks will also enter dog / cat doors to get to food
• BBQ grills
• Compost
• Garbage
• Fish ponds
• Fruit & nut bearing trees
• Gardens
• Livestock feeds

Shelter

• Uncapped chimneys
• Holes in the roof or in eves that provide access to the attic
• Under decks / sheds/ concrete slabs
• Overgrown lawns
• Wood / rock/ or other piles of debris
• Garages that are left open
• Windows / doors that are open or broken that provide entry to basements or storm cellars
• Unsecured skirting around trailers

This homemade recipe is easy and inexpensive to make. It is very effective when used to protect plants, gardens, and surfaces from damage.

Mix the following:

• 1 bottle hot pepper sauce (small) or can cayenne pepper (small)
• 1 gallon of water
• 1 tsp. mild dishwashing detergent

Spray this repellent on plants or anything you would like protected from chewing.

Must be reapplied after heavy rain or watering. Fruits and vegetables should be washed before human consumption

Bats

Foxes

Pigeons

Raccoons

Skunks

Squirrels

Woodpeckers