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August 20, 2007
Urban wildlife is here to stay - and it's bat
season
(reprinted from The Westmount Examiner)
Urban centers share their space
with urban wildlife, much to the chagrin of many
citizens. The words 'private property' do not
apply to the skunks, raccoons, squirrels and
bats that like to squat in attics, under patios
and inside chimneys.
However, there is a way to get the message
across and in a humane fashion.
Westmount is home to a variety
of wildlife that has made its way down the
mountain. Within the island of Montreal, there
are as many as 15 to 30 raccoons and skunks per
square kilometre. For safe cohabitation to
succeed, the first rule is to protect the home
and prevent animals from finding or creating
entry points.
Bill Dowd, president of Humane
Wildlife Control, says the most important action
to take when dealing with wild animals is not to
give them a reason to visit in the first place.
Humane Wildlife Control is a
company with service centers throughout Ontario
and Quebec. They respond to calls regarding
wildlife conflicts and provide solutions that
benefit both home owners and urban wildlife.
Dowd advises against facing off
with animals like raccoons and bats and
recommends calling in professionals at first
sighting. People should always be cautious.
“Just like you don’t want to go and pet a stray
dog or cat,” Dowd says.
Westmount Public Security
responds to residential calls but will often
refer the callers to wildlife control experts.
They will not remove the animal.
“When you remove a raccoon,
another will take its place,” said Richard
Blondin, director of Westmount Public Security.
Humane Wildlife Control
wholeheartedly agrees. Removing animals, Dowd
said, “creates a vacuum for others to move in.
Raccoons are here to stay.”
What’s more, relocating a family
of animals is equivalent to sentencing them to
death because they will be placed in unfamiliar
surroundings and new territories in which to
forage. However, to close off an animal’s
entrance to the nest it has made in your home
simply forces it to return to another of the
five or six den sites the animal has in its
territory. This is the suggested humane
solution.
Susan Spencer encountered a
family of skunks living under her deck on
Lansdowne Avenue. She called Humane Wildlife
Control who initially placed a trap door in the
small opening used by the skunks, allowing them
to leave but not return. The company also placed
wire meshing deep into the ground so the skunks
could not dig themselves back underneath the
deck.
“Your home is probably the
biggest investment you will make and you should
protect it,” Dowd said. That includes proofing
chimneys, roofs, foundations and any other small
openings animals can access.
Dowd also warned that August is
bat season. This is the time of year when young
bats learn how to fly and accidentally end up in
attics and wall shafts. Humane Wildlife Control
receives about 150-200 bat related calls during
this time.
The danger posed by bats is
twofold: bites from rabid bats and spores found
in bat droppings are both extremely hazardous to
your health. Dowd says not to go after bats with
brooms and tennis rackets, as any escaping
liquids expelled by a blow to the animal can
also be dangerous.
For these reasons Humane
Wildlife Control stresses the importance of
animal-proofing homes. And of course, when a
wildlife conflict or encounter does occur, don’t
do it yourself — call in the experts.
For urban wildlife inquiries or
emergencies, you can reach Humane Wildlife
Control at: 514-395-4555 or visit their website
at
www.humanewildlifecontrol.com. Westmount
Public Security can be reached at 514-989-5222.
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