NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
June 25, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 300
For more information, contact Greg Moore, Wildlife Section Administrator, 302-739-9912, Sgt. Greg Rhodes, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, 302-739-9913, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Fish and Wildlife Urges Caution When You Find
Wild Animals in Your Neighborhood
If you see a wild animal in your yard or neighborhood, what should you do? First and foremost, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife encourages citizens: don’t panic. Second, watch its behavior before determining if - or whom - you might need to call for assistance.
“If you see a raccoon, skunk, fox or another wild animal in your yard, observe it quietly from a safe distance, preferably indoors, and keep children and pets away,” said Greg Moore, Wildlife Section Administrator. “But do not, under any circumstances, attempt to touch, pet, handle or catch it. Wildlife is just that – wild, and we need to leave it to its natural state.”
Moore encourages people to accept and respect the wildlife that they encounter. “The Division of Fish and Wildlife is charged with the public trust to care for the wild animals that live in our state, but every Delawarean can be a good steward to wildlife and share in the legacy of our natural world,” he said.
With Moore’s precautions in mind, people should understand that seeing wild animals in a suburban setting is not unusual, he explained. “Many neighborhoods, especially newer developments, are former wildlife habitat or border on natural areas. Rabbits and squirrels are very common backyard visitors, but fox, skunk, raccoon, possum, groundhogs and even deer might also make an appearance in some areas,” Moore said. “In most cases, animals will leave on their own.”
To make your yard less appealing to wild animals, trash – especially if it contains food waste – should be placed in tightly closed trash cans or kept indoors until close to pickup time. Don’t feed your pets or leave food for them outdoors, and don’t feed or encourage strays. Livestock feed and even birdfeeders can also attract some types of wildlife.
Concerns about rabies should factor into dealing with wild animals. All warm-blooded mammals, including humans, are susceptible to rabies. Possible rabies symptoms to watch for fall into two categories: furious, in which the animal may be very aggressive, biting at the air and attacking without provocation; and dumb, in which the animal may appear withdrawn and sluggish. Animals with rabies may also be thin, sickly or have poor coats, although these symptoms can also be indicative of diseases other than rabies.
An animal that may appear to be behaving strangely is not necessarily rabid. For example, not all animals are only out at dusk or during the night. Raccoons are typically most active in late twilight and early morning, but they may also be seen during the day, while red foxes are normally daytime feeders.
“Many people assume that just because they see a wild animal in their backyard, it must be rabid, which is usually not the case. Just seeing a fox walking around during the day is not symptomatic of rabies,” said Chief James H. Graybeal of the Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section. On average, Enforcement receives about five to 10 animal nuisance complaints a day. Most are unfounded, he added, noting his agency does not respond to private property for removing, trapping or putting down wild animals.
Unless a human has been bitten by an animal, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement provides callers with phone numbers of commercial pest control operators in their area. “If you have a raccoon nesting under your porch and you want it removed, you need to call a pest control company,” Graybeal said, noting these private sector operators are licensed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife and will charge for their services.
In emergency situations in which the public’s safety is threatened, police agencies will respond to put down a dangerous animal. City, town or other municipal police have the authority to respond in their jurisdictions; in unincorporated areas, Delaware State Police or Fish and Wildlife Enforcement agents may be the responders.
“We do not encourage private citizens to shoot animals, except in an emergency situation where the animal aggressively poses a threat and there is no other help available,” said Graybeal. Also, shooting at animals in public areas is against the law and is best left to professionals, he added.
If a human has been bitten by any wild animal, report the incident to the Division of Public Health’s rabies program. The program initiates an investigation and dispatches animal control officers to the scene when applicable. Statewide animal control officers will respond, and will put down or trap the animal. Anyone picking up a dead animal is advised to wear heavy gloves and wrap the animal securely in plastic for disposal or rabies testing purposes.
To report a wild animal bite to the Department of Public Health, please call the DPH rabies hotline at 302-744-4545. To contact animal control officers through the Kent County SPCA, please call 302-698-3006 or 888-352-7722 toll-free.
To contact Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, please call 302-739-9913 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For natural resource-related complaints on nights and weekends, please call 800-523-3336, toll-free.
For general information on wildlife, please call the DNREC Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912.
