Guess Who s s Coming to Dinner? (The neighbors are simply wild.) Ofc. Karen Hayo Chief Animal Control Officer, City of Manassas Lt. Pauline Shatswell Animal Control Officer, Prince William County D.C. Ron Winder Director: E-911 E & Animal Control, City of Manassas Park
Objectives State and local laws governing wildlife Common species of wildlife in Northern Virginia Wildlife behaviors Zoonotic diseases Why are they in my yard or home? Who do I call for help? Being a good neighbor.
Laws & Regulations Governing Wildlife Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries http://www.dgif.state.va.us 1. Definitions: (VAC 15-20 20-50) VAC 15-30 30-50 Possession, a. Wild animal means any transportation, and release of member of the animal wildlife by authorized persons kingdom, except domestic animals, including without US Fish and Wildlife Services limitation any native, naturalized, or nonnative US Department of Agriculture mammal, fish, bird, amphibian Local ordinances typically define 2. Regulations: the types and numbers of VAC 15-20 20-160 Nuisance species animals which may be kept in designated a particular zone. VAC 15-30 30-10 Possession, importation, sale, etc. of When in doubt about whether wildlife by authorized you can own an animal at persons your home, talk with your local animal control officer. He or she will know the rules..
Common Species of Wildlife in Northern Virginia Bats Squirrels Raccoons Opossums Groundhogs Fox Skunks Rabbits Deer Coyotes Bobcats Bear Beavers A word or two about: Feral Cats
Wildlife Behaviors Most have learned (or are learning) to adapt to living near people You may see animals you know to be nocturnal during the day, especially when it s s cloudy or overcast Abnormal Wildlife Behavior An adult animal is easily captured (healthy adult animals are not easily approached or caught) The animal is limping or not bearing weight equally on all legs The animal is sitting on the road and does not move from traffic The animal displays obvious signs of trauma (bleeding or open wounds) The animal is having breathing problems, seizures, tilting of the head to one side, or ongoing circling
Zoonotic Diseases In its simplest definition, zoonotic diseases are those diseases which transmit from animals to humans. The infectious agents may vary (parasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc.), but they are carried by an animal. A vector is an insect or any living carrier that transmits an infectious agent. Zoonotic diseases include: Rabies, Lyme Disease, Mange, SARS, West Nile, Ringworm, Histoplasmosis If this isn t t enough to convince you not to handle wildlife, remember that you may become a carrier of diseases you can pass on to family members or household pets.
H-E-L-P!! There are critters in my yard (or house)... Local Animal Control? Why are they here & who do I call.. Pest Control? Wildlife Removal Specialists?
Why are they here? They received your invitation. SHELTER FOOD Come and get it. WATER They are finding: an available source of food and/or a supply of water and/or temporary or relatively permanent shelter is accessible
Where do you want to eat tonight? Hey, the Johnson s s cat has some new food in her dish.... Oh boy, the Miller kids left jelly doughnuts in the yard again!!! OK! Neighborhood buffet it is.
Just a single room, please!
Cute???
Not So Cute.
Not So Cute.
A Big Problem???
A BIGGER PROBLEM!!!!
So what should I be doing?? Prevention is your best defense. Don t t feed your own animals outside. Eliminate birdfeeders from your yard. Take great pains to keep your trash sealed in a container with a tight lid. Clean up your yard. Store your household goods in your shed or garage, not all over the yard. Outdoor storage is unsightly AND can provide shelter for wildlife. Stay ahead of the game with property maintenance. Don t t allow wildlife to exploit your broken soffits, vents, walkways, etc. If wildlife can t t find a meal in your yard or home, they will likely move on, without establishing a residence. Try talking with your neighbors; a community cleanup is easier with more hands.
Even nice looking yards can attract wildlife if you don t clean up after your own animals
I get it! But who do I call to get rid of the wildlife which has already moved in?
What do the local (city or county) animal control officers do? Generally speaking, local animal control is busy handling issues involving domestic animals, such as dogs and cats. bite reports pet abuse complaints (animal cruelty) domestic or neighbor disputes involving animals barking dogs dangerous dogs dogs roaming at large or strays enforcing ordinances governing rabies vaccinations and animal licenses
Why can t I just call my pest control company can t they help? Some may be able to help, but mostly pest control companies handle the following: Routine insect extermination calls (roaches, ants, etc.) Infestations which imperil the structure (e.g. termites or flying ants) Hornet or wasp infestations Small rodent removal (rats and mice) Flea remediation Fumigations (bed bug or lice infestations)
So what does a Wildlife Removal Specialist do? Whether they call themselves Critter Control, or trappers, the wildlife removal specialists can usually help with the difficult cases. Trapping often takes a lot of time and neccessitates return trips to your home. Remediation of the property damage only adds to the expense. Fee schedules reflect the labor-intensive nature of this work. Again, prevention is the best defense. Clean up and make your home less inviting to the animal world.
Are you a good neighbor? Good neighbors are mindful of their surroundings and maintain their property Good neighbors work to clean up and green up their neighborhoods