Wildlife Control Policy for Your Community

There are so many small animals, birds and insects native to North America. Learning more about them and why they call your area of the States home may help you control their population in an effective and harmless way. Educating yourself on your community's wildlife control policy could help you and the animals calling your yard home.

Most cities, communities and even neighborhoods have policies in place to deal with animals considered a "nuisance". Most of these animals are essentially harmless and merely seek out your porch, basement or trash barrels for food and shelter. However, because they can transmit rabies they have to be dealt with.

Dealing with these animals in a humane and careful way is the ideal of most communities. For example, if the bats in your elm tree can be removed carefully and harmlessly then everyone involved can view the situation happily. Raccoons, bats, opossums and even feral cats can all be a problem for homeowners.

It is important to find out the wildlife control policy for your city, community or neighborhood. Taking the situation into your own hands could be dangerous and even illegal. Some communities have specific guidelines for dealing with wild animals. A veterinarian, local police officers or fish and game officials may need to be involved. Trying to capture a raccoon your self could lead to receiving a vicious bite from an animal with rabies. Likewise, killing an animal could lead to a fine.

There are many resources that can provide you with information on your area's wildlife control policy. Contact institutions of higher education, like community colleges and universities. Often a college or university will have a biology department expert that can answer questions. Occasionally, these same institutions will have rehabilitation facilities for wild animals.

You may be able to find information through your city and county. Generally, there is a standard set for an entire area. Perhaps you can go online to your city's website for information or look for resources at city hall or the courthouse.

Local veterinarians can also be a resource. If you have a wild animal inhabiting your yard, they may be just the business to contact. Vets have a variety of cages, leashes even tranquilizers available for wild or vicious animals. They may also be able to tell you where to take baby animals or incapacitated ones.

Finally, your local or county sheriff's office is a good resource. Discuss the situation with them. They may decide to come right over and capture the animal for release in the wild. The sheriff may also be in close contact with the area veterinarian, getting them involved as well.

Regardless, there is information available to you and you should seek it out if you have an issue with wild animals at your home. The wildlife control policy of communities can vary so being aware of discrepancies is important.

Bird Control - The Ferral Pigeon

The Feral Pigeon (Columba Livia)

In recent years as people have become more and more urbanized, birds have taken refuge in our buildings and homes, they can and often are a pest to humans. Under normal circumstances birds are protected but under the Wildlife and countryside Act 1981 (amended 1995) states that thirteen species of birds are recognized as public or agricultural pests of economic importance, which may be killed in certain circumstances by owners or occupiers of premises or their authorized agents, however in this article I shall shed some more light on the Feral pigeon.

Reproductive Biology of Pigeon

They lay two eggs and on average have 2-3 broods per year, the incubation period is anywhere between 17-19 days and they can spend between 35-37 days in the nest, depending on food availability and how favorable the conditions are they can produce more offspring.

Nesting and feeding habitats

Feral pigeons prefer to make their nests on ledges, as long as it is flat surface protected from the elements, they make their nests out of twigs and use there droppings as cement to hold the nest together, they will often only build one nest and return to it. Feral pigeons prefer a diet of seeds, green feed and domestic scraps from humans and tend to feed near cities or roosting sites, wherever food is abundant.

Controlling the birds

General proofing: This consists of sealing holes in the building to prevent entry places for birds, proofing can be achieved by using expanding foam, chicken-wire, eaves-filler.

Avistrand: A system of wires and springs attached to the ledges of buildings to provide an insecure landing spot for birds which prevents them from settling, this system is particular suited for pigeons and gulls.

Bird repellent: a non-setting gel applied to ledges, which presents an insecure landing site, preventing birds from settling, this system will work for a period of a year.

Netting: Nylon netting used to net off access to roosting areas such as light wells, pipe runs, ventilation shafts, net sizes for feral pigeons should be about 50mm

Trapping: Specially designed cages can catch birds and they can moved away.

Shooting: The use of specialized air rifles by a fully trained pest control officer trained in the methods of humane shooting of birds.

Why they are a nuisance?

The close association of birds and people and animals is likely to spread diseases such as Salmonella, Ornithosis and Fowl pest.

When birds settle on buildings they leave their droppings down the side of buildings which very unsightly.

In factories their droppings and feathers may contaminate food production and may be a health risk.