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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.
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What do Wild Animals Need? |
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 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
The following food sources will attract wildlife to your residence:
- 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
The following provide shelter for urban wildlife:
- 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
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Any habitat altering methods must be employed consistently for 7 to 14
days and monitored closely. If you are not consistent, they will become
more aggressive and persistent.
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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
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Wild Animal Information and Solutions |
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Animals 
