Avoiding Wildlife Troubles

photo: (c) Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

The presence of wild animals in urban areas reflects the animals' ability to adapt to the replacement of fields, trees and streams by lawns, ponds, gardens and chimneys. Animals may use this new environment at the expense of their human neighbors, creating a disturbance or causing damage. Keep in mind that seeking shelter and food is an animal's natural instinct. They are not intentionally trying to cause problems.

While trapping and removing the animal may seem like an obvious solution, it does not usually provide a permanent answer. And, it's often illegal for you to do yourself. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources requires a permit to live trap or kill most wild animals. Check with your community police department to see if they have personnel authorized to live trap and remove offending animals. Or call a commercially-licensed animal removal service (look under "animal removal" in the telephone directory). Trapping and removing animals only creates an open space for another animal. A trapped adult may also leave young behind to die of starvation in an inaccessible area. Focus on removing the attraction, not the animal in order to prevent another invasion.

Following is a list of commonly encountered wildlife conflicts along with recommended procedures for resolving such situations.

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