Raccoons, Coatimundi, Skunks, Rock Squirrels, Badgers, Javelina, Deer, and even Pack Rats, are notorious for digging around structures, gnawing on plants, and, in some of the cases, a few of these animals can climb or reach up to eat fruit. Summertime has lots of calls coming in to 1st Response Wildlife to evaluate, educate the business or home owner on which animal is being a nuisance and, if necessary, relocate it. One of the challenges of this business is trying to help the customer identify which of the variety of “critters,” that are found in the Sonoran Desert, is actually the guilty party.
Technology is playing more of a role in helping identify what is digging around structures, what is destroying plants, and disturbing animals, or making holes in buildings. If the animal can be observed, motion detector pictures taken, or helpful phone camera shots of the destruction forwarded before a trip is made to meet with the business or home owner, it reduces the time between identification and lure/bait selection, if relocation is warranted. This becomes especially helpful if the customer is calling from a distance of greater than, say 50 miles, because bringing the wrong equipment, lure/bait, snare or tools, could warrant another trip and time-to-remedy the situation will have been extended.
Since the greater Tucson area, Pima, Pinal, and Cochise Counties have such a plethora of active animals this time of year, the more information that the business or home owner can supply to help narrow down what is causing problems, before the initial visit, by 1st Response Wildlife, the better.
Recently, such a situation presented itself. A business owner called 1st Response Wildlife with a report of an animal digging, stripping fruit trees, and disturbing young plants. Located over 100 miles from Tucson, a one-way trip without pin-point knowledge of what could be causing the problem could have been an expensive exercise.
Here are a couple of pictures of what was happening. From the first picture, it is not really clear what is digging, nor, from the second picture-which shows a protective tube around tender plants has been lifted, can the animal be identified or what sized equipment should be brought down for an on-site evaluation.
Fortunately, the business owner was able to snap a few pictures of the type of digging and destruction-above and then, the clincher- helped specifically by the Monsoon rains, was that, the rains made the ground soft enough so that the animal causing the problem left these footprints, below. Clearly they show it as none other than a masked marauder-Raccoon. An alternative suggestion had been Coatimundi, but, based on experience and other factors, it was pretty clear Coatis were not involved here. (There also had been some thought, before the footprints were discovered, in talking with the business owner, about other larger animals to consider, Deer, Javelina, etc. but, with these prints, it was pretty clear what identification 1st Response Wildlife was going to make.)
The equipment was chosen, the lures/bait packed and, based on discussions with the business owner, it was determined that the nuisance animal, when captured, would be relocated. Using the right sized equipment and focused on areas of disturbance, the Raccoon was humanely captured, relocated and the business owner will no longer have it bothering his plants.
If you have digging or disturbances, inside or out, it is helpful if you can see and snap a picture of the animal causing a nuisance to your business or around your home. In some cases, it may be better if the animal is left alone and the area is secured in such a way as to make it difficult for it to bother your property but, in other instances, for all concerned, it would be beneficial to relocate it. In either case, if you have, what you think is a problem, please do not hesitate to call 1st Response Wildlife.
Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife
Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517
Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!
Comments