Dealing with nuisance wildlife

questions and hope to see you on Wednesday, July 27.

Our topic today is concerning wildlife and the times where we have problem with wildlife causing issues in and around the home. This time of year, we may have problems with wildlife other than birds raiding the birdfeeders or maybe animals causing problems in our vegetable gardens or landscape plants. First, I am not a wildlife specialist. Many times I use our UGA wildlife experts and our friends at DNR to help out in many situations. Today, in fact, I will be sharing information from a UGA publication by Mike Mengak, UGA Professor- Wildlife Outreach.

First, I think most if not all people like seeing wildlife in their natural environment. I have said numerous times that when I retire, I may just become a bird watcher and take pictures of all the birds we have in the area. In addition, recently I have seen several photos of bear in some areas of the county.

Keep in mind that many times we create our own issues. I am not telling you not to fill up the feeder, but when we feed birds we normally are supplying a food source for many squirrels and also you can be feeding a rodent population when bird food falls to the ground. When we leave out pet food out at night, for example, we may be feeding the opossum and raccoons instead of our dog. I will add that with the current drought, the weather could drive up the chance of nuisance wildlife situations. For example, the deer may soon decide your ornamental plants make a nice meal due to the fact of limited other food options have died due to drought conditions.

If you seem to be having issues with wildlife on your property, you may be able to use the HERL model in cutting down on these situations. I will add that there are state and federal laws that protect nearly all wildlife. These laws regulate which species can be trapped or hunted. Also, the Migratory Bird Act protects all native birds. At times, I will refer clients to our friends at DNR that specialize in game management with more specific questions when dealing with regulatory issues. Most homeowners can use the HERL model on their property to deal with wild- life issues in a safe, efficient manner.

First, the H stands for habitat modification. This may not be as simple as it seems, but may be a big step in solving a problem. This is the step of making the area unattractive for a certain critter so they will not want to call the property home. That may not be as easy as it seems. How many folks have made an attractive landscape scene with rock and larger ornamentals? This cover could make ideal homes or hiding spots for mice. Then mice in turn will make a food supply for snakes so you have them too. I am not saying to get rid of the nice décor in the lawn, but make sure you keep lawns mowed to correct height and do not have added brush, brick, firewood or other piles that could add to the problem.

The E is for exclusion. This is where you put up a physical barrier. This could be a fence or something solid. First, you need to know what animal is causing the issues and research fencing that will work for that animal. In case of deer, it could be a tall fence to keep them out of the vegetable garden. In addition, this could be a chimney cap or even making sure soffit vents are in proper order if having issues with smaller animals.

The R stands for removal or repellents. You may have to make a phone call to cover your regulatory bases about trapping wildlife. You may need a permit and in some cases, it could be illegal to relocate a trapped animal. If you use a repellent, you must read the label of any product for proper use and any safety warnings. Repellents will either be a fear, taste or even an odor product. You just need to read up on where and how to use these products.

The L in the HERL model does stand for lethal measures. This should be the last resort and may require federal and state permits. I will add that there are Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators or NWCOs that run professional wildlife control businesses that can help in situations too large for some homeowners to handle in dealing with wildlife.

For more information, contact UGA Extension- Gordon County or email gbowman@uga.edu.