Bats – Groundhogs – Raccoons, Skunks, and Foxes – Sticky Traps – Rodenticides – More on Human-wildlife Conflict
Below you will find resources to help you navigate common situations where conflict may arise between you and the wildlife around you.
Bats
Bats are very complex mammals. Possessing powers of flight that we only dream of when talking to our
friends in childhood, they also have ultrasonic hearing aka echolocation. They are the only mammal
capable of true and sustained flight. They also go through daily torpor during their active seasons. Their
bodies go through these fluctuations every day because of their high metabolism, and they depend on
hibernation or migration during Pennsylvania winters. Getting help for bats as soon as they are found is
imperative to their success in rehab.
Pennsylvania is home to nine bat species, six of which hibernate, and three who migrate. We also have a
few species who have only been found in the state in more recent years. All of the species found in the
state are insectivorous microbats. Their roosting niche varies- crevices in bark or rock formations, foliage
roosting in trees or leaf piles, and sometimes creative makeshift areas.
There are many reasons bats should be appreciated. They are natural pest removal for insect species
such as cucumber beetles, stink bugs, mosquitoes, and even more recently documented in guano
spotted lantern flies! Bats are misunderstood, they are crucial to our ecosystems and yet their
populations are heavily impacted by humans. Feral cats introduced by humans decimate their
populations, pesticide use, habitat destruction, window strike, and diseases.
As amazing as this group of mammals is, we do need to be mindful of ensuring our safety when handling
them. Bats are often a reservoir species, which means they can harbor a pathogen and be a point of
exposure to humans or other species (typically mammals). This is why it is so important to never handle
a bat without proper equipment. They are also considered to be a rabies vector species in the state.
Human exposure requires the bat to be euthanized for testing, so that is why it is so imperative to
handle them wisely for the safety of yourself and the animal. Populations are decreasing, so every single
life we can try to save is crucial.
Unwanted Bat Colonies in House
Bats have begun to adapt to urbanization. Species like big brown bats have found
attics to be very sufficient roosting opportunities to establish colonies. While we would personally love
to have some small mammal roommates, not everyone appreciates tenants who don’t pay rent. When
situations like this come up, ensuring to find wildlife exclusion pest removal services is the most humane
course for these magnificent mammals. We recommend Bat Removal Specialists LLC as a first point of
contact. They are very informed and truly care for bats!
Bat Houses/Boxes
If you love bats as much as we do, and hope to see more around your home, bat boxes provide crevice
roosting species with a safe habitat! It is important to make sure they are placed in an appropriate
fashion, if they are too low feral cats or other predators will utilize the roost like a free buffet. And be
patient, it may take quite a while for them to decide a box is safe to create a maternity colony or re-
establish their colonies location. There are many resources on how to hang purchased roosts! We
recommend looking at Pennsylvania Bat Conservation and Rehabilitation’s website under their bat
houses tab to find up to date building plans for the best style box in our climate.
Groundhogs, Raccoons, and Foxes
Groundhogs and Gardens
One of the most common nuisance wildlife calls that Red Creek receives every year is about a groundhog that have moved into someone’s garden or under their shed. While we understand the frustration over this situation, and the desire to remove the threat to your garden, there are safety and licensing regulations that we need to follow.
First, it is illegal for Red Creek to accept any animal that is healthy. We are licensed as a rehabilitation facility, not a pest removal service, so we cannot interfere in these situations. Groundhogs are also considered to be a rabies vector species in Pennsylvania. This does not mean they are always rabid. It simply means that they have a higher rate of positive rabies tests in their populations than most other species in Pennsylvania. Because of this increased risk, it is illegal to trap and relocate groundhogs. Even if the animal is taken to a remote area, it can still introduce diseases into new areas, spreading to new populations. This also means that pest removal services may not relocate groundhogs. You may call a pest removal service to remove nuisance groundhogs, but they will be euthanized after removal per Pennsylvania law.
Because of these limitations, we recommend utilizing a process we refer to as “humane hazing” to remove them. Wild animals instinctively avoid excessive human noise, and prefer natural light cycles. We can utilize these preferences to encourage them to move to a more natural environment by playing loud music on speakers near the areas the animal is frequenting and putting floodlights out. The floodlights may be motion activated or kept on all night. This will make the area less hospitable for the animal, and they will be encouraged to find a new, less stressful environment within a few days.
Raccoons, Skunks, and Foxes
Another common call comes from individuals that are caring for feral cat populations. Raccoons, skunks, and foxes are attracted to the food and shelters provided for feral cats, and may move in to your yard to enjoy the free food and board.
These are both species that are considered to be rabies vector species. The same removal restrictions apply to them as do groundhogs. It is also very difficult to get foxes, skunks, or raccoons to move on in these situations because they are aware that there is regular access to food and shelter. In addition to humane hazing as described above, you may need to remove access to whatever is attracting them in order to get them to move on.
Foxes with Mange
Foxes that are noted roaming at abnormal times, underweight, and/or experiencing patchy fur may be dealing with a case of mange. There are several causes for mange, but we recommend the same process of intervention for all of these cases.
Foxes are tricky to capture, so for animals that are evading capture or experiencing milder forms of mange, we recommend a topical treatment called diatomaceous earth. This is a safe, effective pesticide that can be purchased at most home improvement stores. Any type will work, but food grade is often preferred by homeowners. It can be placed in a small pile in areas that the fox regularly frequents. The fox will likely begin to roll in the dust, which will kill the mites that cause the mange.
We do not recommend attempting to treat with oral anti-parasitic medications such as Ivermectin or Bravecto. These medications come in weight-based dosages. Because you cannot get an accurate weight on these foxes without capturing them, it is dangerous to attempt to medicate them. Side-effects can be deadly, especially on immune-compromised animals such as foxes with mange. You also cannot guarantee that the fox will eat the medication. Another wild animal or even feral cats may take the baited medication, which can cause extremely painful symptoms resulting in death.
You may also contact a local rehabilitation facility to discuss capture and treatment options. We are always happy to help in these situations.
Man-made Dangers for Wildlife
Sticky Traps
Sticky tape used for lantern fly removal, glue traps for rodents, and other types of sticky traps for pests are extremely dangerous to wildlife. Animals that are not the intended target often become stuck instead of the pest, and these traps are an excruciating experience for any animal that becomes stuck.
A struggling animal can fight so hard to free themselves that they tear skin, rip out hair or feathers, and even break bones. When the traps are not checked regularly, animals become starving and dehydrated, which leads to organ failure and even more pain.
We never recommend the use of sticky traps to remove pests from your home or business, and if you come across an animal stuck on one of these traps, it is best to get it to a rehabilitation facility as soon as possible. Do not try to remove the animal yourself. This is an extremely stressful situation for the animal. Some prey species may experience stress-induced heart damage while being freed, and all animals are capable of lashing out as they become loosened from the glue. Best practice is to calmly and quietly place the whole trap in a dark box and transport the animal and trap to your nearest rehabilitator as quickly and quietly as possible.
Rodenticides
Rodent poisons are another danger for wildlife, including those beyond the list of intended targets. It is not uncommon for wildlife rehabilitation centers to receive raptors, foxes, and other scavengers who are suffering the effects of rodenticides after eating a rat or mouse who has eaten some of the poison. This impacts already injured or sick animals in particular, because those animals are desperate and will go after a rat or mouse that is slow and weak due to poison.
Weakened by prior injuries and losing proper clotting of their blood, animals with rodenticide poisoning suffer a slow, painful decline. Without intervention, they will not recover. Any animal that is suspected to be experiencing rodenticide poisoning should be reported to your closest rehabilitation facility. They will direct you on proper containment and transport for treatment.
It is important to note that rodenticide poisoning can lead to symptoms that are associated with diseases and injuries such as rabies, head trauma, distemper, and more. Calling a wildlife rehabilitator whenever you notice wildlife behaving abnormally is always the right thing to do.
What is Human-Wildlife Conflict and Why is it Important?
Human-wildlife conflict has historically been used to describe any situation where wildlife poses a direct, indirect, or perceived threat to humans. Wildlife professionals are beginning to expand this definition to include some situations where human presence and interactions with wildlife pose a threat to that wildlife as well. Most human-wildlife conflict situations are incredibly nuanced, and this expanded definition helps identify this nuance. For example, if a human individual allows their cat to roam outside without restraint or supervision that cat might attack and kill a bat. If, in that instance, the bat manages to wound the cat and some of its saliva infects the cat, the cat is now at risk of contracting rabies. If the cat is not up-to-date on its vaccine and becomes infected, it will then carry the risk of exposure to rabies back home to the people it lives with. This is different from another commonly used example of human-wildlife conflict (an elephant that tramples someone’s crops), because it acknowledges that there is the potential for risk and damage to humans, domestic animals, AND wildlife all together. Even in cases of wildlife posing a direct threat to humans, there is often a secondary threat of harm or death to wildlife when humans attempt to remedy the situation.
It is important to acknowledge and discuss human-wildlife conflict because the conversations open the door to finding solutions that benefit humans and wildlife alike. Remember, protecting wildlife DOES protect humans. All wildlife has a role in their ecosystems, and working WITH their roles as much as possible, allows us to reap the benefits of their presence while minimizing the risks.
We also acknowledge that this is a stance that comes from a position of privilege. There are situations where the risk of harm to humans is extreme – starvation, violent/painful death, and more. As wildlife caretakers, it is essential that we work to ensure that people are safe as we handle these conflicts.