Squirrels, Raccoons & Bears

Oh My! Nuisance Wildlife in Suburban Neighborhoods On The Increase?

Aug 18, 2007 Pam Sissons

Nuisance wildlife in suburban neighborhoods includes squirrels, raccoons and even bears! Although beautiful, they can become problem animals in your back yard!

The presence of 'nuisance wildlife' - squirrels, raccoons and even bears - continues to rise in residential neighborhoods. In many suburban areas where residential growth and construction are on the increase, reported incidents of humans and wildlife in conflict continue to surface. As a result, wildlife control has become a necessary business in many areas.

New home construction often results in the disturbance of natural wildlife habitats. Trees are felled, roads and construction sites grow, and streams and brooks are re-routed, resulting in the inhabitants of those areas being forced to look elsewhere for food and shelter. Not only are they displaced, but their roaming areas may become condensed and they begin to show up in back yards, cul-de-sacs and neighborhoods.

A suburban neighborhood can be a smorgasbord for wildlife! The list of animals considered to be nuisance wildlife can be long: bats, skunks, and fox can also be included as candidates. The types of animals may vary from region to region, but here are some of the most common:

• Squirrels love nothing better than dining on birdfeeders. Cute and precocious, they also love chewing siding, accessing attics, munching on vegetables and inviting all of their friends and relatives to do the same.
• Deer can be a very common sight, and although beautiful and a wonder to behold in your yard, they can eat every plant, fruit and vegetable you have growing.
• Turkeys are frequently found in areas that still have some open fields or large yards bordered by trees or forested spaces...fun to watch but not terribly bright, the biggest threat they cause is a traffic hazard!
• Raccoons are stealthy nocturnal diners, and love nothing better than a challenge...particularly when it's wrapped in your garbage can! (They also love a tasty birdfeeder if they can get to it!)
• Bears are, unfortunately, becoming more common in residential areas, raiding garbage cans, bird feeders, gardens, anything they can get their hands on.

Gazing out your window on a clear, sunny morning and seeing a deer or a black bear strolling along the edge of your yard can make you want to take a photo and hope for more. Suburban bears, however, truly can become the most invasive nuisance wildlife and are difficult to remove if tolerated. The biggest threat is that they lose their fear of the humans around them and begin to feel much more at home than is safe. Trapping or destroying them is often the only option.

For homeowners who find themselves faced with problem animals around their homes or in their neighborhoods. the best option is often to hand it over to wildlife control professionals in your area who are skilled at all types of pest removal. Not only is it the safest for the animals, but for you as well!

The copyright of the article Squirrels, Raccoons & Bears in Plants & Bulbs is owned by Pam Sissons. Permission to republish Squirrels, Raccoons & Bears in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Black Bear