Critter Control: Residents Learn How to Deal with Unwanted Guests

Wild animals might be the last thing on an Oak Forest resident's mind. in the area, for instance, could catch residents off-guard—but not if Ben Nelson has anything to say about it. 

Nelson, a representative from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wild Life Services department, talked coyotes, foxes, skunks, raccoons, and just how to handle the critters that might creep into residents' yards. 

“We preach integrated damage management,” Nelson said. “What I mean by that is that we try to integrate all of the tools that are available to use to help manage wildlife conflicts. Sometimes that will involve technical assistance, direct control assistance and a number of different things. … We use all of the tools in the toolbox.”

During the Aug. 9 Committee of the Whole meeting, Nelson spent time covered various traits of each animal, including breeding habits, activity patterns and ways to manage the animals.

For residents that are concerned about their pet's safety, Nelson said that pets are rarely the target of feeding habits of foxes and coyotes. An ongoing study has shown that pets make up less than 1 percent of coyotes' food sources. Adding that most of the pet-like animals found were cats, so there was a good chance they they were feral cats and not domesticated house pets.

Nelson said that all four of the animals could generally be maintained by similar methods, including eliminating feeding options, trapping, and sealing off openings to burrows the animals make.

After his presentation, Nelson fielded questions for council members about specific issues residents might have dealing with the animals—like how one removes an animal once it has established residence under a home or deck.

While he said that trapping certain animals requires specific permits, he said that local agencies and businesses can do the job.

“If you don't feel comfortable trapping these animals on your own, that's more than fine,” Nelson said. “You can contact a nuance wildlife control operator and they usually have all the permits and the training and things like that. … Also you have your animal control office here in Oak Forest for other problems.”