What do you do when you run into trouble? In today’s society many feel that a call to 911 will save the day. But that’s not always the case. This is especially true when it comes to living with animals.
We’re not talking about the family pets here. What we’re referring to is of the wild variety. From deer walking in front of your vehicle to a skunk making a home under your back porch, we constantly share space with animals.
Sure, it’s great observing wildlife up close and personal. A good example can be found where people feed wildlife. It’s fun to watch white-tail deer. However in many cases, when one neighbor feeds and draws wildlife in, the deer readily take the handout and when finished also have their way with a nearby neighbor’s shrubbery and other ornamental plants. Then suddenly the animals that were so much enjoyed to watch suddenly become classified as a nuisance.
In the case of the skunks in the City of DuBois, a specialist is on call to address the problem. When a skunk is known to be frequenting a particular neighborhood, city residents can call the “skunk man”. Humane traps are set and in time the problem is removed. But what about those problem areas that involve other types of wildlife and no one is available to help?
Nuisance control agents that are permitted by the PA Game Commission can be called in to address the problem. Keep in mind there is a cost involved. And depending on the type of problem, it is better to have the situation resolved by a professional. Due to the growing need for services like this, there are an expanding list of individuals providing this type of service of wildlife pest control.
While nuisance animals and human encounters can prove to be interesting at times, the meetings are not always pleasant — and in some cases downright scary.
After all, being greeted by a 250-pound black bear at close proximity can prove to be as interesting as being surprised by a skunk at close range.
There has been a growing trend to leave the confines of a town or city for the peace and serenity of rural life. A peaceful setting that is away from the hustle and bustle. Now the new neighbors may have four legs and fill the night air with coyote howls.
Sometime back I read a book titled, “Nuisance Animals”, by John Trout, Jr.
The book keys in on how wild animals interact with man. It provides solutions from how to deal with animals that eat flowers and crops, to those that can, and often do, inflict property damage. Trout also addresses wildlife situations when animals simply make themselves at home in or around our dwellings and then he offers practical solutions.
The book is a practical DYI on how to handle unwanted wildlife. A how-to in the sense of living with wildlife and, when it becomes a problem, how to cope with these creatures we share the land with. In many cases there are simple solutions. Take for instance black bears.
Every year about this time black bears make the news by being on someone’s back porch or raiding the garbage can. You can bet that having a black bear up close and personal at any time of the year can be an experience to say the least. And yet in most cases encounters can be kept to a minimum.
Black bears are opportunists, and when an easy meal can be found, they’ll take advantage of it. One common occurrence is black bears raiding the garbage. The solution can be as easy as keeping the garbage stored in the garage or other out building until pickup.
Also keeping your barb-e-que grill cleaned up can keep black bears from using their noses to find where the grill is located. In the case of an outside pet, again keeping their area free of leftover food can go a long way in making an easy meal hard to come by. But what if things go beyond your control?
When conflicts do occur, give the regional office of the PA Game Commission where you live a call. In many cases, solutions to a wide variety of particular problems may even be provided over the phone. While in other cases a Wildlife Conservation Officer may have to become involved.
Wildlife can provide hours of watching enjoyment. However when wildlife becomes a nuisance, there are measures that can be taken to resolve the problem. But it takes a little understanding and knowing where to start.
Charlie Burchfield is an active member and past president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, an active member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writers Assoc. of America and the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers. Gateway Outdoors e-mail is GWOutdoors@comcast.net.
