Relocation of Wildlife

Many people while opposed to the use of pesticides and other poisons, steel jaw traps and shooting to kill native wildlife, think that the most humane alternative in dealing with "nuisance" wildlife is the use of live traps. These live traps are readily available through feed and supply stores or by mail order and are purchased regularly by well-meaning folks who don't want to harm the wildlife, but don't want them in their area. In these cases, the wild animal, be it squirrel, skunk, opossum, raccoon, weasel, or whatever, is generally taken to a remote area and released. The good news is that the relocater is happy because the "pest animal" is gone from his yard. The bad news is that the relocatee will probably be dead within a few days.

Relocation of wildlife is not the answer to a nuisance wildlife problem. Relocation creates problems. Any given wildlife habitat ( even if it is your own yard) can support a given number of wild mammals and birds. This "carrying capacity" is based upon available food supply and species population density. If your yard or neighborhood can support 10 raccoons, that's the number of raccoons that will live in that area. If one raccoon is removed, either by death or relocation, one more will move into that area. Exceptions to this rule occur during spring and summer when the baby wild birds and mammals are born. A given habitat will literally be exploding with wildlife. This "explosion" consists of juveniles, curious and exploring, but still reliant on the parents. Once the juveniles are independent of their parents, they will relocate themselves. This is referred to as dispersal. Only the appropriate number for that given area will remain. For these reasons, the relocation of wildlife is a violation of California law. Relocation is a biologically unsound practice. When live traps are used, state law mandates that the trapped animal must be released within its home range- and within 24 hours of its capture. Many live-trapped animals have died slow and agonizing deaths due to exposure and dehydration simply because people, once they've trapped an animal, don't have a clue as to its ultimate disposition. Dying in a live trap is far more inhumane than a bullet in the brain.

Wildlife are all around us. There isn't a neighborhood in San Diego that doesn't have either a skunk, opossum, squirrel, raccoon, or some other form of native wild mammal or bird. The larger the animal, the larger its territory will be. There will be fewer large mammals or birds in a given territory than there will be smaller mammals and birds. An area supporting two mountain lions may well support 100 raccoons as well, plus many assorted other birds and mammals.

Many wild mammals in our area are nomadic by nature, roaming and scavenging throughout their given range. Skunks, coyotes, opossums and raccoons do not have a home base except during spring and summer when they have nursing babies. They will, however, return to an area that continually provides them with a steady supply of food. Before you assume that you have a nuisance wildlife problem that must be "removed", determine what you are doing to encourage that animal to frequent your yard or property. Pet food kept outdoors at night and unsecured trash cans are the two main culprits.

When dealing with our "urbanized" wildlife, tolerance and the realization that this world is theirs too may help us enjoy , rather than destroy, our native wild species.

A point to ponder is that for every acre of pristine wildlife habitat that is bull-dozed to make room for more houses, literally hundreds of native wild birds and mammals become displaced. Many of these animals will perish; others will relocate themselves and, in their desperation, become the "nuisance wildlife" in our yards and neighborhoods. Do your part to preserve our wild habitats, to save our native wildlife and to prevent your existing neighborhoods from becoming the dumping ground for our displaced wildlife.

— Cindy Traisi