Snow Hill, MD – Worcester County Animal Control (WCAC) is asking residents to help protect local wildlife by taking a few simple steps to eliminate conditions around their homes that may attract wild animals and lead to nuisance interactions.
“Our office receives numerous requests to trap wildlife,” Chief Animal Control Officer Glen Grandstaff said. “At times an animal poses a legitimate threat to human health or property, but at other times it may simply be a healthy animal helping itself to a bowl of cat food left on the back porch or crawling through an open window in search of a spot to den for the winter. Unfortunately, once Animal Control is called upon to trap and remove the animal, Maryland’s permit requirements leave very limited options for that animal.”
Under the State of Maryland permit that authorizes WCAC to trap nuisance wildlife, healthy wild animals cannot simply be captured and relocated to another area. An animal must either be released at the location where it was trapped or brought back to WCAC and humanely euthanized.
“Residents can often prevent conflicts with wildlife simply by removing whatever is attracting the animal and giving it an opportunity to move along on its own,” Grandstaff said. “By implementing a few simple changes, you may ultimately save an animal’s life.”
Here’s what residents can do to help reduce or eliminate conflicts with wildlife around their homes:
- Feed pets indoors. Pet food left outside attracts wildlife. If pets must be fed outdoors, remove leftover food immediately after they finish eating.
- Secure garbage. Keep trash in tightly closed containers.
- Close off access to your home. Chimneys, vents, crawl spaces, sheds, window wells, and other openings make attractive shelters or dens.
- Remove accumulated leaves and brush around the home, and cut tree limbs that are near a roof.
- Keep cats indoors. This helps protect both pets and wildlife.
- Avoid trapping as a first response.
Wild animals are a normal part of life in Worcester County, and WCAC promotes practical solutions for people and wildlife to safely coexist. Before calling WCAC to trap a healthy raccoon, opossum, skunk, or other wild animal, residents are encouraged to ask: What is attracting the animal to my property, and can addressing the source of the problem prevent future conflicts? Making a few simple changes to reduce an attractant may save the life of a healthy wild animal.