Control techniques for Wildlife problems

The problem When wildlife damage is a recurring problem, a landowner, property manager or occupant may want to consider altering their property to discourage its attractiveness to wildlife. Geese, for instance, can be deterred by certain landscaping configurations. Where gardens attract rabbits, groundhogs, and deer, the landowner may want to consider constructing a fence. Fences are a long-term and relatively inexpensive solution. An unprotected garden will continue to attract wildlife. Many people choose to use non-toxic chemical repellants. While these are effective in many cases, repellents are temporary, require frequent reapplication and are often expensive.

Most common solution In many cases, people will encounter a particularly troublesome animal: a skunk under the porch or an aggressive groundhog. In cases like these, the most effective method of control may be the removal of the animal. The most common method of removal involves destroying or relocating the animal.

Animal Problems Animals not only cause predation problems on livestock, they also cause damage to property and person. The size of problem can be minor to major. Pests can be ants to beavers to grizzly bears. Different techniques can be used for removal or destruction of the animals.

Techniques and their evolution Techniques evolve over time. Sometimes there are a variety of techniques to solve the same problem. The solution listed below are a general solution to predation/nuisance problems. Techniques used to be shoot and bury. Now, things are more complicated and more non lethal solutions exist.

Examples of Control techniques for specific species Bears – Both black and grizzlies. Dogs, live trapping, foot snares (Aldrich snares), rubber bullets, bear mace, fencing, shooting and relocation. Bobcat and lynx – Dogs, snares, calling and shooting, leg hold traps, and aircraft tranquilization.

Bear situation in Florida

Leg hold traps

Rubber bullets, bean bags rounds

Cougars Fencing specific areas, den hunting, calling and shooting, aircraft, snares, M- 44’s and leg hold traps.

Coyotes, Foxes, Wolves Fencing certain areas, den hunting, calling and shooting, aircraft snares, M-44’s and leg hold traps, guard dogs and neck snares. They are able to use leg hold traps, which they only check every three days. Many animals will chew their own legs off to escape these traps and later die of their injuries.

Livestock penning, guard dogs, cracker shells If only small herds of animals exist, you may pen the animal. This works well unless the predator gets into the pen. Guard dogs are used in this area for sheep; mostly they are Great Pyrenees. Cracker shells are used to scare canines when they enter areas of livestock. However, animals quickly become habituated to this.

Great Pyrenees