Mainers, Scrap the Trap: The Humane Way to Deal With Those Critter Invaders
I'm watching my Facebook feed and people are asking other peeps to borrow live traps. These are handy and used typically to capture furry pests who have invaded home walls, garages or underneath your deck. Here in Maine typical invaders take the forms as raccoons and squirrels.
My family had a raccoon in our garage a few summers ago. The masked bandit made a den and started a family. It was not an easy capture but mama and her pups were relocated to a less inhabited area for everyone's peace of mind.
However, if you are looking to keep a humane approach, using a live trap and relocating the animal may not be the safest way to resolve the situation after all, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
TheHumane Society of the United States is actually asking for people to consider not using live traps to rid the invaders of your property.
Their reasoning is multi-layered.
First, if an animal has moved in it's probably to start a family, not just to irritate you. So, if you just remove the most obvious animal, the mama, then you could potentially leave the unseen helpless babies to starve. Heartless.
Secondly, relocating the animals is putting them in a place they've never been. They don't know where their food sources are. They don't have a home or territory. And, if you separate mama from her baby(ies) then it will be likely that the baby won't make it.
So, what do you do? The Humane Society of the United States recommends these solutions:
- Wait It's only a matter of time before the mother is done rearing her pups. The denning and raising season is short. Once they are out, repair the spot that was disturbed and button it up so it doesn't happen again.
- Harrass Them Don't be a jerk about it but disturbing the den will warn the creature that it is an unsafe to rear the children. Loud sounds and unpleasant smells (a rag soaked in apple cider vinegar) will help.
Of course there are other things to consider when dealing with an unwanted housemate. Check out the Humane Society of the United State's page about your alternatives to live-trapping as well as the top ten problems list to find more solutions to your particular problem.