The discovery of any wildlife living inside your home is a scary and confusing situation. The majority of homeowners are going to be worried about the safety risks to themselves and their family, as well as that of the animal. Questions like how the animals got inside the home and how many of them are there might take a backseat to the more obvious concern: What do I do right now? Here is a list of three concrete no-nos when dealing with wildlife in your home.
1. Touching the Wildlife
This is a simple rule to abide by, and good advice for many reasons. The potential for human hands to inadvertently hurt or damage an animal’s often-fragile body is high. The old story we’ve all heard about bird parents abandoning their chicks if there is any trace of human scent found on them is a myth, but be aware that any commotion around babies may attract nearby predators who would be only too happy to take advantage of defenseless young.
If touching the wildlife is absolutely necessary, such as if the wildlife is currently in a vulnerable position due to household pets or other threats, make sure to use a thick pair of gloves to protect both yourself and the animal.
2. Cornering or Locking up the Wildlife
Wildlife can be unpredictable, so putting them under the stress of being cornered may provoke an aggressive reaction out of self-defence. There is always the unpleasant chance that the wildlife may be infected with rabies, and even a minor nip or scratch can result in transmission of rabies to a human. Remember that bigger animals are prone to fight while smaller creatures will try to scurry away; it’s best to refrain from sudden movements if possible to avoid upsetting the wildlife.
Locking the room or area where the wildlife was discovered is also not advisable—the animal will not simply lay down and starve, but instead will try anything possible to get out of the enclosure, including causing structural damage to the home. In the event that the animal does die, the homeowner will have to call in a professional to dispose of the body, the same professional that could have removed the animal in a safe and humane way in the first place.
3. Using Traps to Capture the Wildlife
Mechanical traps would seem to be an easy and cost-effective solution to wildlife in the home. However, most store-bought traps are far from humane and could easily injure the animal in the process of containing them. There is also the question of separating a parent from its babies, putting the survival of the young at real risk. It also may not resolve the problem entirely, as rarely is there only a single invader. As the old adage goes, there are likely two you don’t see for every one you do when it comes to household pests.
These three mistakes are basic guidelines for how to treat wildlife in your home or on your property. There is more in-depth information available, as well as information specific to the species of wildlife with which you may have encountered that can be a big help. As always, the safest and most humane resolution is to contact a professional who is experienced in these sort of encounters in the home, and they can guide you on exactly what you need to do to keep yourself and the animal safe.