As
springtime approaches, so does the wildlife. Wild Mama Rabbits, Squirrels,
Raccoons, Foxes and Coyotes, as well as others, all start looking for
wonderful, dark, quiet, and warm places to have and raise their young.
Your home may be the perfect location. Everyone feels differently about
the wildlife in their area. Some love the idea of watching nature in
their own backyard; others would rather keep it at a distance distance.
No worries, I will try to give everyone ideas that will make it a peaceful
spring for both human and wildlife.
First,
and most important, check your roof tops and chimneys. At this time
of the year Squirrels and Raccoons are looking for a nursery to have
their babies; they will nest and enter your home through small cracks
and holes. Raccoons love un-capped chimneys best of all.
• Most importantly, you will want to bring in all food and water
sources from dusk to dawn.
• Check for any outside entrances.
• Check all the vents as these can make possible entry points.
• Check the eaves for entrances.
• Securely mend with ¼’ welded wire.
What?
You already have squirrels or raccoons in your attic or chimney.
It
is best to wait to evict the wildlife until the babies are grown and
gone.
If you really want them gone, you want to get the mother to move the
babies on her own.
If a baby is left behind, a wildlife rehabber will be happy to care
for it. (Don’t forget to give a donation)
Please try these ideas first.
• To look for squirrels - go up into the attic in mid-morning
to look for the nest. When found, ever so gently tamper with the nest,
and don’t touch the babies as they are very fragile.
To look for raccoons – check the attic in the evening when mama
is out. Be Careful!
• Prior to installing the chimney cap, check the chimney by shining
a flashlight down into it from the roof. Don’t put your hand up
into the chimney from inside the house for obvious reasons.
• If a raccoon is in there you will see and hear her.
• Place a radio, tuned to a talk station about 6 feet from the
nest in the attic or in your fireplace if mama raccoon is in the chimney.
• Soak a tennis ball in ammonia and toss in the area of the nest,
but not in the nest. The ball with the ammonia can be placed in the
fireplace to evict the raccoon. NEVER start a fire in the fireplace
to evict wildlife. Remember these are humane solutions.
• Check the nest in a few days, if babies are gone, patch up the
entrance. If you don’t have a secure cap on your chimney, NOW
is the time to get one. Please do this on the first nice day and when
it is safe to get on the roof.
Peggy
Wrabetz is a Licensed Colorado Wildlife Rehabilitator; her
organization Angels for Wildlife is a Non-Profit Organization
that rehabilitates injured, ill, and orphaned wildlife babies. One of
her many goals is to educate the public about humane solutions to wildlife
situations. These are just a few ideas that will help you live with
the wildlife in your area. Peggy says, she can’t guarantee that
they will work for everyone. They are worth a try and have been very
useful in the past. You can email her at Angelsforwildlife@msn.com
for more ideas, questions, and concerns. She will also have more information
for you in the next issue.
