L i v i n g w i t h W i l d l i f eO R E G O N D E P A R T M E N T O F F I S H A N D W I L D L I F E

URBAN WILDLIFE

Some species, like squirrels andraccoons, live high up in trees, soyour eaves and attic look good tothem. Skunks are ground dwellersand burrow under things likeporches and woodpiles. Look forsmall openings like vents, drain

ODFW: April 2002

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE • 2501 SW FIRST AVENUE • P.O. BOX 59 • PORTLAND, OR 97207-0059 • WWW.DFW.STATE.OR.US

homes and territories and don’ tlike intruders moving in. Try toimagine a stranger moving in toshare your home. A raccoon, forexample, faces a choice whenforced from its home: either try tosqueeze into an area alreadyoccupied by another raccoon ormove in with the new humanneighbors. This is where conflictoften begins. A critter takes upresidence under your deck and eatsthe pet food on the porch. Or birdsdecide to nest in your chimney orattic. What can you do?

Critter-Proof YourHomePlan ahead.

To critter-proof a building, trythinking like a critter – before itmoves in. The busiest time of yearfor conflicts between wildlife andpeople is the spring breedingseason when animals search fordens or nest sites to raise theiryoung out of the reach of preda-tors. This begins as early asFebruary for some species. In thefall, some wildlife seek places outof the weather for hibernation orfor winter denning.

Evaluate your home, buildingsand outdoor spaces.

Think like a critter as you walkaround your house and yard. You’dwant to be warm and dry, so lookfor snug spots out of the rain andwind that an animal can access.

Great blue heron

TIPS TO ENJOY YOUR WILDLIFE NEIGHBORS AND DEAL WITH TROUBLESOME ONES

Oregon is a specialplace, known for its natural

features and its diverse and

abundant wildlife. However, as

human populations grow, the space

left for wildlife shrinks, especially

around urban areas. When their

habitat, food and water sources

disappear, “ critters” look else-

where for their basic needs - and

sometimes that means your yard,

attic, crawlspace or garage. In

urban areas, parks and green

spaces provide important wildlife

habitat; but sometimes animals

residing there are attracted to easy

meals or living quarters near

human dwellings. By making a few

modifications to our behavior and

our homes, most conflicts can be

avoided.

There are many parallelsbetween wildlife needs and peopleneeds. To understand why wildanimals behave as they do, weneed to see the world from theirperspective.

It’s easy to think that ananimal will simply move “some-where else” when people clear apiece of land to build a house, aroad or a shopping mall. However,like people, many species needtheir “own space” and don’ t like tobe crowded together. They have

2

If you already have an animal inside, see thesection titled, “ You’ve Got a Critter in Your

House – Now What Do You Do?” on page 10

pipes, and cracks in the foundationwhere mice, rats, bats and snakescould enter. Even dryer vents canbecome nesting places for birds.

Take steps to prevent problems.• Seal potential entryways with

sturdy wire mesh, solid materials(plywood, sheet metal, bricks),or caulk openings before animalsmove in. Choose materials thatbest suit your situation and thetype of animal. Species thatchew a lot, like squirrels, mayquickly chew through a sheet ofplywood, but that same plywoodwould effectively keep out bats.

• Cover window wells by makinga framed cover using hardwarecloth, chicken wire or heavy wiremesh; or purchase commercially-made grates or bubbles.

• Screen foundation vents andclose holes around and underfoundations so animals aren’ ttempted to enter. Bury wire mesh1–2 feet deep in places whereanimals might gain access.

• Screen chimneys, wood stovepipes, and furnace, attic anddryer vents. Chimney topsshould be screened from Febru-ary to September to prevent birdsand animals from nesting inside.Check first, however, with yourlocal fire department or othersafety source to prevent fire andsafety hazards. Close damperswhen not in use to avoid “drop-in” guests.

Unintended visitors to food sources.

Avoid attracting unwantedwildlife.

The sound of a tipped overgarbage can or finding empty petfood bowls could mean wildlifevisitors. It’s not healthy for ani-mals to consume food that’s notpart of their normal diet, to associ-ate areas of human habitation withfood, or to lose their fear ofpeople. To prevent this:• Please DO NOT FEED WILD-

LIFE. Feeding animals artifi-cially increases wildlife popula-tions, making it difficult for themto establish territories for theirother needs. Providing artificialfood sources may also lead tounnaturally large concentrationsof animals and increase thespread of disease. When raccoonnumbers are high, for example,diseases like distemper spreadmore readily in the raccoonpopulation. Some wildlifediseases can be transmitted to

domestic animals,but if pet vaccina-tions are current, therisk is very low.

• Feed pets indoors. Ifyou must feed dogsor cats outside, bringin food dishes afterpets have finishedeating to preventwildlife from eatingthe leftovers. Bringwater bowls inbefore dark.

• Keep your garbagecan in a securelocation like aclosed garage oroutbuilding andbring it out just

3

If You Build It,They Will Come –Creating Wildlife-Friendly Habitat

Many people enjoycreating backyard

habitat to attract birds, mam-mals, reptiles and amphibiansby planting selected trees,shrubs and food plants pre-ferred by wild creatures andadding water sources such asponds or basins.

Consider your priorities inlandscaping your yard. Keep

pet areas and high-use areas forchildren and adults separate fromthe planned “wild” area of youryard to minimize the disturbanceto wildlife – and be especiallysensitive to the presence of wildlife

parents and young in the springand early summer during nestingand rearing season.

If you create a pond, beaware that you are welcom-

ing a variety of animals that willbenefit from this new water source,including frogs who may serenade

3

before garbage collection time. Ifyou must keep it outside, tie thecan upright with a cord throughthe handle and fasten it tosomething sturdy like a post.Metal cans and a tight-fitting lidwork best. Raccoons can bepersistent and bears sometimesshow up in outlying areas.

• Pick ripe fruit and vegetablesdaily in the garden and pick upfallen fruit from the ground. Ifyou use a compost bin, choose astyle that excludes wildlife thatmay be attracted to vegetableand fruit scraps.

• If you feed birds, be aware thatfeeders may attract other wild-life. In some areas, that may

Goldfinches at bird feeder.

include bears. Try placingfeeders where they are notaccessible to other wildlifespecies or use feeders designedto exclude other species.

• To keep feathered visitorshealthy, provide fresh seedwithout mold and clean feeders,water containers and bird bathsweekly with a solution of onepart bleach to nine parts water.An alternative to artificialfeeding is to provide natural foodsources for birds and otherwildlife. See reference to theNaturescaping book below.

• Share these tips with yourneighbors. It only takes onehousehold to create a problem.

Raccoon at backyard water source.

you – music to some peoples’ears, but not to others. If you addfish, raccoons may show up to eatthem and also disturb yourcarefully placed rocks and waterplants. Check with a local pondstore for raccoon solutions beforeyou invest your time and money.Smaller water features may be abetter option, depending on yoursituation.

A good reference for creatingbackyard habitat to benefit

wildlife is Naturescaping - ALandscaping Partnership withNature, published by OregonDepartment of Fish and Wildlife.To purchase a copy, contact anODFW office or check your localbookstore.

4

Managing ConflictsWith Urban WildlifeSpecies

Be sure to read the previoussections on preventing problemswith urban wildlife.

BIRDSBirds sometimes fly into

windows resulting in injury ordeath. To deter birds from win-dows, hang a silhouette of a raptor,strips of cloth or shiny mylar fromthe eaves to catch any breeze andcreate movement. Marking awindow with strips of white tapecan also break up the pattern of areflected background of sky andvegetation, or of indoor plants thatappear to be accessible. Placingfeeders away from windows alsoreduces collisions with glass.

Research shows that free-roaming cats kill millions of birdsand small animals each year inNorth America. Bells on a cat’scollar have not proven effective inalerting birds to a feline’s pres-ence. Consider making your cat anindoor cat to protect birds andother wildlife – and to protect your

cat from injury from cars, catfights, disease and other hazards.

All native migratory birds areprotected by federal law. It isillegal to injure, kill or possess anative bird or to interfere with anactive nest. If birds build a nest inan inconvenient place or in alocation where birds and youngwill not be safe, the nest can bemoved only if no eggs or youngare yet in the nest. Please do thisonly if necessary.

Flickers and other woodpeck-ers are sometimes noisy neighborswhen searching for insects undertree bark. They may set up shop ona new construction site and “ham-mer away” on the new wood,loudly announcing their territory ortrying to attract a mate during thebreeding season. Territorial“drumming” on houses may be abreeding season behavior or couldindicate an insect infestationunderneath the siding that thehomeowner should investigate.Because these birds are territorial,it is best to take action as soon aspossible. Discourage them fromusing the site by hanging largestrips of bright cloth, aluminum

foil, or mylar around the location.Owl decoys may also be effective.Provide suet away from thepecking area as an alternative foodsource, but hang it out of the directsun. In areas where bears mayvisit, be aware that bears like suetalso. If woodpecker damagecontinues, call for advice.

Hawks, owls, falcons andeagles, known as raptors, hunt infields and woods for food. Someraptors hunt small mammals orsnakes while others prefer to huntsmall birds. Hawks and owls arebeneficial in controlling rodentpopulations. Hawks are sometimesseen on the ground beside free-ways “mantling.” Don’ t bealarmed. The bird is not injured,but is covering its prey with spreadwings to prevent other birds fromseeing and taking its prey.

Occasionally, a raptor mayperch in a tree or on a fence nearyour home. Raptors are not adanger to you or your pets and willprobably stay only a short time.However, if a hawk or owl showsup in your yard and you would likeit to leave, waving and shouting orbanging pots together, will usually

Northern flicker

5

chase the bird away. It’s importantto remember that all birds of preyare protected by law, so if you havea problem with a raptor, contactODFW for advice.

Swifts are fast-flying birds thatnest in the spring and roost duringfall migration in large-diameterhollow trees throughout Oregon.They often use older chimneyswith a rough interior surface whenlarge hollow trees are unavailable.Although they look somewhatsimilar to swallows, swifts havecigar-shaped bodies and fly withfaster, more shallow wing beats.Because they have quick, erraticflight patterns, they are sometimesmistaken for bats when seen flyingat dusk. Like bats, they are benefi-cial and consume huge quantitiesof flying insects in flight.

Vaux’s swifts (rhymes withboxes) are often noticed in largegroups during spring and fallmigration when they swirl above achimney like a tornado and sud-denly plunge into the structurewhere they roost, clinging to thechimney walls for the night. Theymay roost in a chimney for severalweeks while pausing in an area tofeed and fuel their journey.

If swifts nest in your chimneyduring the spring breeding season,close the flue and be patient untilthe young have left the nest inabout four weeks. Adults andyoung are protected by the federalMigratory Bird Treaty Act. If theyselect your chimney as a massroosting site in the autumn, enjoythe nightly spectacle until theyhead south after several weeks.Consider allowing them to useyour urban roost again next year.If, however, you decide to preventfuture roosting, cap your chimneyin March before their arrival.Remove the cap in late October to

November after they’ve departedsouthward so you can use yourchimney again. Call your nearestODFW office for further advice.

Waterbirds, including ducks,geese, and great blue herons,spend most, but not all of theirtime near water. Ducks sometimesnest in less than ideal places suchas parking lots. If baby ducks fallinto a storm drain, call the localpublic works or road department.Herons are sometimes seenpreying on young ducks, which isupsetting to some people. This ispart of the natural world, wheresome animals are predators andsome are the prey. Consider it arare chance to witness this naturaldrama.

Geese like open landscapessuch as golf courses, lawns andponds. They may feed heavily onlawn grasses and leave numerousdroppings behind. Geese can bevery aggressive when younggoslings are present. In the short-term, waving, shouting and otherloud noises will often cause thebirds to leave temporarily. How-ever, the best remedy is to changethe landscape. Geese don’ t like tall

grass, because they can’ t seepredators well. Let vegetation growtaller and keep native vegetationalong pond edges. Consider alterna-tives to short turf grasses. Planttrees and shrubs in the flight pathbetween ponds and lawns. Keepbackyard swimming pools coveredto discourage geese and ducks fromlanding in them.

Herons, and sometimes osprey(a fish-eating hawk), are fond offish in backyard ponds. To preventthem from reaching fish, place logsor branches in the water to providecover for fish to hide. You can alsoscreen the pond with lightweightmesh fabric or other materials.Herons may be seen far from water.They sometimes hunt for field miceon grassy strips along highways orin fields.

MAMMALSBats, like snakes, can stir a lot

of emotion in people. However,knowing a few facts about theseinteresting and useful creatures mayhelp. Bats are flying mammals thatare nocturnal (active at dawn anddusk, and at night). They provideexcellent insect control and can eat

Canada goose

6

thousands of mosquitoes and otherinsects each night. They roost increvices and under tree bark. Whenthese natural roosting sites areunavailable, bats look elsewherefor places to roost and raise theiryoung. Attics and eaves are primealternatives.

To prevent bat entry, seal offany openings (as small as a dime insize) after you are sure the batshave left to hunt at night. Neverseal off an area during the summerwhen young bats are still in thenursery – they will be trapped and

die, resulting in bad odors. Manypeople like to have bats around(although not in their house) andinstall bat boxes nearby to provideroosting areas. In return, they arerewarded with a voracious insecteater and another garden friend.To read more about bats, contactyour nearest ODFW office torequest the ODFW brochure,Living With Wildlife - Bats.

Bear information is alsoavailable by requesting the ODFWbrochure, Living With Wildlife -Black Bear, from your nearestODFW office.

Beaver, muskrats andnutria – all three of thesecritters look alike at acasual glance. Pay attentionto size and tail shape to tellthem apart. Beaver are thelargest, up to 30 incheslong, with a broad, horizon-tally flat tail. Muskrats aresmaller (10 to 14 inches),with a tail that is flattened

vertically on the sides. Nutria areabout 2 feet long with a round tail.Usually they are grayer than thevery brown beaver or muskrat.

Damage from beaver can behard to control. If they are damag-ing trees, mix 1 tablespoon of hotsauce in a gallon of water andspray the lower portion to preventgnawing. Re-apply regularly,especially after a rain. Hardwarecloth around each tree may alsohelp, but it must be at least 3-1/2feet high around the trunk andburied at least a few inches belowground. Painting the lower barkwith a mixture of sand and paintmay also help. Live trapping is anoption, but seldom is an entirefamily of beaver trapped out.Trapping in summer could orphanyoung kits in the beaver lodge.Live trapping requires a permit, socall your local ODFW office formore information.

Muskrats, like beaver andnutria, prefer to burrow into slopesor banks. You may also see gnawedvegetation in the water or dome-like mounds in the middle of apond. If you can live with thesituation, muskrats will provideexcellent aquatic vegetationcontrol. However, live trapping orusing rock to cover the slope at thewater are alternatives. Considerplanting crops at least 200 yardsaway from a waterway, which isapproximately the extent of theterritory for these mammals.

Nutria were introduced toOregon and are not protected bylaw. They can eliminate certainspecies of native aquatic plants andalso compete with native muskratsfor food and shelter. As a non-native species, they cannot berelocated.

Nutria are nonnative.

Roosevelt elk

Can you live-trap and remove an animalfrom your property? See the section,“ Wildlife and the Law” on page 11

7

Chipmunks, ground squirrelsand woodrats may be a problemeast of the Cascades, and to alesser extent on the west side. Todiscourage their presence, keep

under your direct supervision,especially at night. The U.S.Department of Agriculture(USDA) manages coyotes. Formore information, check with your

nearest WildlifeServices office,listed in the phonebook under USDA.

Deer and elk candamage trees, cropsand landscapingplants. Effectivefencing must be atleast 7 feet high tokeep out both deerand elk. For specificson effective fencingmaterials to fit yoursite and terrain,

contact ODFW for advice.Many people prefer to use

repellents that taste bad or give offa bad odor. They must be appliedon a regular basis, especially afterit rains. These products areavailable commercially at farm andgarden stores. You can experimentwith other techniques like hangingmirrors, strips of aluminum foil, orrags soaked in ammonia. Neverattempt to corner or harass a deer

or elk. They can be dangerous andunpredictable.

Also keep in mind that deerwill leave their fawns for longperiods of time while feedingnearby. Do not pick up deerfawns. Call ODFW before you takeaction.

Opossums (or “possums” ) arenonnative and usually active atnight. Like raccoons, opossumstake advantage of easy livingsituations and are successfulbecause they adapt to urban envi-ronments better than some nativespecies. The same rules of preven-tion apply – remove opportunitiesfor food and shelter as you wouldfor a raccoon. Opossums negativelyimpact native invertebrates, smallmammals, amphibians, reptiles, andground-nesting birds, eggs andnestlings.

Raccoons may nest in shelteredspots like your attic or crawlspace.They are omnivores and opportu-nistic, meaning they eat a widevariety of foods wherever they areavailable. These black-maskedmammals are intelligent, curiousand learn quickly where to get aneasy meal or a warm nap.

Opossums are not native to Oregon.

Feeding raccoons can artificially increase populations that soon cause problems andspread disease.

wood piles small and away fromhouses. Close off all openingsaround buildings, decks and patios.Pets may also discourage theirpresence. If needed, clear outbrush piles and other cover habi-tats. Washington ground squirrels,restricted to sage shrub-steppehabitat in Morrow, Gilliam andUmatilla counties, are listed asendngered under the state Endan-gered Species Act.

Cougar (mountain lion)information is available by request-ing the brochure, Living WithWildlife: Mountain Lion, fromyour nearest ODFW office.

Coyotes are most active fromdusk until dawn. This 25-35 poundanimal typically preys on rodents,insects, amphibians, fruits, birdsand their eggs, and sometimesfawns. They are opportunistic andwill also raid garbage cans,outdoor pet food bowls and takelivestock and untended smallfamily pets when the opportunityarises. Prevent problems withcoyotes by eliminating unnaturalfood sources around your homeand housing pets indoors when not

8

If you see a snake andwant it to leave, spray itlightly with a gardenhose or push it gentlywith a broom.

While most nativesnakes will not harmhumans, people wholive in rattlesnakecountry may be con-cerned about thesepoisonous snakes. Thebest control is toconstruct a snake-prooffence around areaswhere human activities

occur. Contact an ODFW office formore specifics on fencing outrattlesnakes.

Sealing openings into build-ings, modifying habitat to elimi-nate shelter, and controllingrodents that snakes might feed oncan also reduce their presence.Problem “ rattlers” can be trappedand relocated to areas away fromhomes or killed. Again, snakes arebeneficial, so the action takenshould reflect the seriousness ofthe situation to the property owner.

AMPHIBIANSFrogs - The most likely native

frog to visit your pond is thePacific treefrog. They are foundthroughout Oregon in a variety ofhabitats, often far from water.Treefrogs frequently “discover”backyard water features duringtheir wanderings and are voraciousinsect eaters. They are green to

sure no adult squirrels are spend-ing the winter inside before youclose the openings.

Although they seldom damagecrops or gardens, squirrels canquickly take over any birdfeederthat isn’ t fitted with a squirrelguard. If squirrels are a problem atyour feeder, your local wild birdsupply store can show you feedersdesigned to discourage squirrels.

REPTILESSnakes are gardeners’ friends.

They are great rodent and slugeaters and are quiet guests, livingin burrows or under logs. If thatstill doesn’ t convince you to letthese beneficial reptiles stay,discourage them from taking upresidence in your yard by remov-ing debris, elevating or sealing offbases of woodpiles, keeping thelawn trimmed very short, andsealing openings under structures.

To keep raccoonsaway, remove the twomost important things –food and shelter. Keeppet foods off the porchand keep all garbagecans securely fastenedor inaccessible in agarage or shed. Close offall openings and cracksin attics, barns andsheds, and preventaccess under porchesand decks. Don’ t forgetthat raccoons can enterthrough pet doors.

Skunks are typically nocturnaland people usually smell thembefore they see them. They like toburrow under porches and shedsand grub around for a meal ofinsects, small animals, or fruit. It’simportant to seal openings – evensmall ones – around foundationsand porches. Skunks can dig undera fence, so anchor any barrier atleast 1 foot beneath the surface.Remember that skunks are mostactive after dusk, so seal anyopenings in the late evening toprevent trapping a skunk under abuilding. The only thing thatsmells worse than a live skunk is adead skunk under your house.

Tree squirrels will take upresidence in attics or under eaves.Seal openings and screen ventsvery early in the year or during thewinter, because the nesting seasonfor these critters can begin inFebruary and last until autumn. Be

Left: Pacific treefrogRight: Turtles encountermany hazards in urbanareas (painted turtle).

8

Striped skunks

9

Domestic AnimalsIt is illegal to release domestic animals into the wild. Too often,

when people tire of having a pet like a dog, cat, rabbit or pigeon, theyturn it loose. These animals are not prepared to live in the wild andusually die. Those that survive may prey on or compete with nativewildlife for food and habitat, eventually displacing them. Find safe andsecure homes for any pet you cannot keep.

Free-roaming pets can harass or kill wildlife, so keep your petsfenced in, on a leash or under voice control at all times. Make your catan indoor cat to protect birds and small animals.

By law, ODFW cannot assist you with domestic animals. Contactyour local city or county government or your local animal control office.

Nonnative SpeciesTo protect Oregon’s native

wildlife, never turn nonnativeanimals loose in the wild.

Nonnative wildlife are some-times called exotic, non-indig-enous, introduced or alien species.Nonnatives are those species thathave been introduced outside theirnatural or historical range ofdistribution. Many are kept as pets,like ferrets and parakeets. Manynonnative species introduced intoOregon compete with nativespecies for food and habitat. Theseintroduced animals can also spreaddiseases for which native wildlifehave no immunity. If you’ re notsure what animals are native ornonnative, contact an ODFWoffice for advice and request thebrochure, Nonnative Wildlife inOregon.

Some common nonnativespecies that are illegal to releaseinclude:

• Opossum• Fox squirrel• Eastern gray squirrel• Eastern cottontail• Nutria• Egyptian goose• Bullfrog• Red-eared slider turtle• Snapping turtle

grey in color with a distinct blackstripe running from the tip of thesnout, back through the eye, and tothe shoulder. Don’ t let their smallsize (up to 2 inches) fool you -they have loud voices, and the“spring chorus” of singing malesmay keep your neighbors awake atnight. In the not-so-distant past,the sound of croaking frogs was awelcome sign of spring and asoothing sound at bedtime. Now,some folks are more comfortablelistening to urban sounds and finda frog chorus irritating.

If treefrogs become a noiseissue, first talk with your neigh-bors, and let them know that thechorus only lasts a few weeks(with occasional summer calls). Inthe meantime, they’ re munching onmosquitoes, flies, ants and beetles.If you still need to discouragefrogs, remove vegetation fromyour water feature if you can.Adults are difficult to catch, sodraining the pond temporarily mayencourage them to leave.

Beware of the nonnativebullfrog, which preys on manysmall animals. It has a large roundeardrum behind the eye and oftensqueaks when jumping into thewater to avoid people. It is illegalto buy, sell or own these frogs.

Salamanders - Don’ t besurprised to find a salamander

under your woodpile. They arebeneficial and eat insects and othergarden pests.

Turtles - Western pond turtlesand painted turtles are the only twonative to Oregon and their popula-tions are declining. Most encoun-ters with turtles are rescue situa-tions – being hit by a car, wander-ing across a road, or digging a nestin a gravel driveway. Turtles haveamazing recuperative abilities, sono matter how badly injured, try toget the turtle to an animal carefacility or ODFW office. Do notcollect uninjured turtles; just movethem gently out of harm’s way.

ODFW can help you identifyturtle species and has a brochureon how to provide habitat fornative turtles on your property. Youcannot legally collect native turtlesto place in your pond. Creatinggood turtle habitat may draw themin, as well as other wildlife spe-cies, so nature may surprise you!

Please obey the law. Therelease of nonnative turtles, such asred-eared sliders and snappingturtles, is illegal and contributes tothe decline of native turtles andother wildlife.

To read more about turtles,contact your nearest ODFW officeto request the ODFW brochure,Living With Wildlife - Turtles.

Bullfrogs are not native to Oregon.

10

An uninvited opossum.

How to Know If The AnimalHas Left Your House

Unless you were able to trap theanimal, determining when a critterhas left your house (so that you canseal up the entrances) can be a realdetective mystery. Use the follow-ing clues to help.

Clue # 1Time of day is important. If theanimal is usually nocturnal, like askunk, bat or opossum, wait untilthe animal leaves in the late eveningto search for food, then seal anyopenings. Critters active during theday sometimes come back duringthe day to rest or to get out of badweather. Plan accordingly and try towork during the early morning orlate afternoon when the animal ismost likely to be out foraging.Always check for the presence ofyoung before sealing an opening.

Clue #2Look for footprints. When you’ reready to seal the openings, useanimal tracks as a clue. If more thanone opening exists, close up all butone, using sheet metal, plywood orother sturdy materials. At the oneremaining opening, sprinkle flour ortalcum powder at the entrance.Check frequently for tracks leadingout of the opening. When tracksshow the animal has left, close upthe access. If tracks show theanimal has re-entered, you missedyour chance and should re-applyfresh powder and try again the nextday.

Clue #3Listen for sounds. You may hear ananimal leaving, especially if it’s inyour attic or under the porch.Careful listening may also give youa hint whether young animals arepresent in a nest.

isn’ t always possible in smallspaces) is not recommended,because the adults may aggres-sively defend the nest.

RepellentsThe use of bad tasting or bad

smelling repellents often encour-ages wildlife to leave the premises.Rags soaked in ammonia placedwithin an opening (where you canreach it for later removal) willoften work. However, if young arepresent that are not yet able toleave on their own, do not use thismethod. Try placing a battery-operated transistor radio, set onlow volume, in the vicinity of thearea you want the animal to leave.Give it time to remove its young.

If damage from chewing orbrowsing is the problem, tryspraying the area where damage islikely to occur with a solution ofhot sauce and water (1 tablespoonof hot sauce to 1 gallon of water).Be careful not to place these itemswhere children or pets can reachthem.

You’ve Got a Critterin Your House - NowWhat Do You Do?

Never attempt to handle a wildanimal yourself. Even a smallanimal can be aggressive ifcornered or harassed. A frightenedone can do considerable damage ina home if chased. If the animal isloose in a room, open a window ordoor and then leave for a while. Itwill usually take the opportunity toexit as soon as possible. If thisdoesn’ t work, other methods areneeded.

Babies in the NestIf an animal is in an inacces-

sible location in a building, becertain it and any babies are outbefore closing off its entry point. Ifpossible, please live with thewildlife family until the young areraised and gone. To seal out theparents and let young animalsdehydrate and starve is inhumaneand can result in a bad odor.Attempting to handle the young,even if you can reach them (which

11

Injured or OrphanedWildlife

If you find injured, sick orpossibly orphaned wildlife, call alicensed wildlife rehabilitationcenter or ODFW for advicebefore taking action. Proper careand handling will increase theanimal’s chance for recovery; yoursafety in handling injured wildlifeis also important.

Most baby animals are notreally abandoned or orphaned.Either the wildlife parent left toforage for food and will return oris out of site nearby, waiting foryou to leave. Do not pick upfawns, seal pups, baby birds andother wildlife babies unless youare certain it is injured or youwitnessed the death or injury of theparent. If needed, keep an eye onthe situation to keep pets andpeople from bothering the animal.If a young bird on the ground is inharm’s way, place it back in thenest or in a nearby shrub; or use asmall basket and hang it in a treeby the handle. Otherwise, the bestpolicy is to leave wildlife youngalone.

Blacktail deer fawn

Removing ProblemWildlife

Permits from ODFW arerequired to capture and relocatenative wildlife. Live-trappingshould be done as a last resort.Relocation sites must be chosencarefully, because many animalsdo not survive relocation. Relo-cated animals may also spreaddisease and disrupt wildlifepopulations in the areas where theyare relocated. ODFW does notadvocate live-trapping wildlifewhen young are in the nest.Nonnative wildlife may not berelocated and should beeuthanized. Call ODFW foradvice.

Some ODFW offices have live-traps for loan. Others can refer youto vendors who rent live-traps orcompanies authorized to captureand relocate problem wildlife – orlook in the telephone directoryunder Animal Control. ContactWildlife Services, listed underUSDA, for assistance with coyotesor cougar preying on livestock.

Wildlife and the Law

It’s important to know whatOregon law says abouthandling wild animals.

• Only licensed wildliferehabilitators may care for injuredwildlife.

• Permits are required from ODFWto live-trap and release protectedwildlife. Permits are issued withlive-traps. If you are unsurewhether a species is protected,call for advice.

• All birds – except starlings, housesparrows and rock doves (feralpigeons) – are protected by law.

• It is illegal to release domesticand nonnative animals into thewild. Many nonnative species areillegal to sell, purchase or own.

• In general, protected species maynot be captured from the wildunder any circumstances. Permitsare issued for only a few pro-tected species. Call ODFW formore information.

• Poison may not be used toremove most native wildlife.Poison may be used for mice,rats, moles and gophers. Remem-ber that these species may beeaten by other domestic and wildanimals which could harm them.

A permit from ODFW is required to live-trap and release protected wildlife.

12

O R E G O N D E P A R T M E N T O F F I S H A N D W I L D L I F E

L i v i n g w i t h W i l d l i f e

D E P A R T M E N T O F F I C E SREGION ADDRESS TELEPHONENorthwest .............. 17330 SE Evelyn Street, Clackamas, OR 97015 ............................. 503-657-2000Southwest .............. 4192 N Umpqua Hwy, Roseburg, OR 97470 ................................... 541-440-3353High Desert ........... 61374 Parrell Road, Bend, OR 97702 .............................................. 541-388-6363Northeast ............... 107 20th Street, La Grande, OR 97850 ............................................ 541-963-2138Salem HQ ...............3406 NE Cherry Avenue, Salem, OR 97303 ................................... 503-947-6000

This publication is also available on our website at: www.dfw.state.or.us

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife prohibitsdiscrimination in all of its programs and services on thebasis of race, color, national origin, age, sex ordisability. If you believe that you have been discrimi-nated against as described above in any program,activity, or facility, please contact the ADA Coordinator,P.O. Box 59, Portland, OR 97207, 503-872-5262.

This material will be furnished in alternate format forpeople with disabilities if needed. Please call 503-872-5264 (voice) or 503-872-5259 (Portland TTY) torequest.

ODFW: April 2002

What You Can Do to HelpWildlife• Keep the “wild” in wildlife.

Observe wildlife from a distanceand don’ t feed them or encouragethem to approach you. Do notexpect them to behave likedomestic pets; they can becomeaggressive when approached or ifthey feel threatened.

• Help prevent injuries to wildlifeby picking up litter, especiallysix-pack holders that may getcaught around a neck or wing.Pack out fishing debris such asfishing line, lures and hooks thatcould get caught in a bill or foot.

• Help wildlife by providing fortheir basic needs – food, waterand space. Turn part of your yardinto wildlife habitat. Includewater features and plant nativevegetation to provide natural foodand shelter.

• Pick up some field guides andbooks on wildlife to learn moreabout animals in nearby naturalareas or those visiting your yard.

• Support funding for nongame andurban wildlife programs.

• Donate to wildlife rehabilitationcenters.

WHO TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE

NATIVE WILDLIFE: For information and referrals on problems, contactyour local Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife office. For emergen-cies or after business hours, contact your local police department orOregon State Police.

INJURED NATIVE WILDLIFE: Contact Oregon Department of Fish andWildlife or a local wildlife rehabilitation center.

DOMESTIC OR NONNATIVE ANIMALS: Contact your city or county animalcontrol program.

ROAD-KILLED DEER: Contact the city, county or state highway depart-ment with jurisdiction for the road.

WILDLIFE VIOLATIONS: Call the Oregon State Police.

COYOTES: Look for Wildlife Services in your phone book under U.S.Dept. of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Wildlife friendly backyard.