From the Late June 2014 North Woods Call
I’ve always enjoyed wild animals—especially those that wander past my windows and liven the landscape.
We see many of them outside our home in Michigan. White-tailed deer, wild turkeys, pheasants, owls, hawks and songbirds are common. So are herons, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, snakes and turtles. Sometimes I even hear the yip of a coyote, but seldom see one in the flesh.
Most of these animals are pleasing to the eyes and ears, and require very little maintenance. Of course, we’re awakened sometimes at night by some rather hideous screams and struggles, but that’s part and parcel of the natural world.
More troubling, I think, are the raccoons, skunks, woodchucks, and possums that seem to think they’re entitled to move into our house whenever they want. So far, they’ve only been able to get as far as the attached garage—although we’ve had more than one ring-tailed marauder peer fearlessly through our back door into the kitchen.
They’re attracted, I suppose, by the food and water they find in bird feeders and cat dishes. For the most part, we’ve been able to stop them from getting at these. But they always seem to find something new to sniff and chew on.
The worst was probably the fat raccoon that climbed the garage wall and holed up in the eave of the house. Despite our efforts, he refused to come out until he could break through the aluminum soffit over our front porch, causing considerable damage.
It has been estimated that as many as three in five metropolitan U.S. households battle wildlife, sustaining as much as $3.8 billion in property damage in a single year. This figure doesn’t include the deaths and injuries suffered in collisions between cars and wandering animals.
The simple matter is that wild animals are running out of space. Conflicts between wildlife and suburbia are increasing. And much of it is our own fault.
Wanting open space and fresh air, we’re building homes farther from the nation’s urban centers. Yesterday’s farms and forests have become today’s subdivisions and strip malls. Driveways and roads cross game trails, tree lines, and creek beds, where animals travel and hunt.
What’s more, animals that find themselves leap-frogged by development have little motivation to move to greater open spaces. They’ve learned that food abounds in the suburbs. There are compost heaps, garbage cans and ornamental shrubs to feast on – along with pet foods and bird feed.
Discouraging these animals requires specific precautions. First and foremost, don’t feed them. They can become particularly aggressive when they lose their fear of man. Make sure garbage cans have tight-fitting lids. Don’t leave pet food and water outside. Pick up fallen fruit.
And cap your chimney. Raccoons often use open, uncapped chimneys as nests, and can steal into your house when you’re away. You can also clear your yard, keeping it free of brush and low branches that create good hiding spots.
Avoiding Darwinian confrontations may be easier than you think. But it requires some effort to make our homes and neighborhoods less alluring to wild animals.
And that’s a good thing to remember the next time a furry, would-be bandit appears at your back door.
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