Do-It-Yourself Nuisance Wildlife Solutions

Living with wildlife and preventing problems can be achieved by following a few rules.

Rule 1:  Do not attract wildlife to your home. 

• Do not leave pet food outdoors.  Feed only what your pets will eat in a single meal.  Pet food is a major attractant for a variety of species including opossums, raccoons, and skunks.
  
  
• Do not intentionally feed wildlife.  Many people enjoy feeding songbirds, but if they are pecking fruits or roosting around your home, feed only in the winter months or not at all.  Avoid placing corn feeders or other attractants near gardens, ornamental plants, or crop fields.  Don’t feed dangerous wildlife such as alligators inhabiting ponds or streams.
  
  
• Secure lids on garbage cans.  Many animals from opossums and raccoons to neighborhood dogs will knock over trash cans for scraps.  Black bears which eat pet food or raid trash cans may lose their natural fear of people.  Oftentimes these activities occur at night.  Keep garbage cans inside the garage and place on the curb the morning of trash pickup, or purchase a garbage can with a wildlife-proof lid.
  
  

Rule 2:  Maintain buildings and structures to keep wildlife from gaining entry.

• Patch holes in buildings and structures.  Use caulk to fill cracks and crevices.  This not only keeps out critters, but can also save energy costs.
  
  
• Patch entries around pipes and electrical wires where squirrels, mice, lizards and snakes can crawl through.  Mice can squeeze through cracks only ¼ inch wide!
  
  
• Place barriers over chimneys, vents, or other access points. Use metal wire mesh or hardware cloth to keep squirrels, bats, rats, and mice out.
  
  

Rule 3: Fence out wildlife where feasible.

• Place temporary or permanent fencing around gardens and other areas you wish to protect.  A buried fence will keep cottontails, turtles, snakes and other species from slipping under.
  
  
• Electric fencing may be an option in some circumstances, such as keeping raccoons from sweet corn, bears from bee hives, and deer from gardens and ornamentals.  Check local ordinances first to make sure electric fencing is legal.
  
  

Rule 4:  Design your yard or farm to minimize wildlife habitat.

• Woodpiles provide habitat for rodents and snakes.  Stack the majority of your wood away from your home.
  
  
• Brush piles provide escape cover for cottontails and songbirds.  Cottontails have a small home range of an acre or two.  Place brush piles in strategic locations away from gardens or crop fields.
  
  
• Keep yard open, mowed, and raked.  Remove brush and debris to discourage wildlife.
  
  
• Keep fence rows clear of weeds and shrubs.
  
  
• Drain ponds, water gardens or other water structures.
  
  

More information about preventing problems contact your local county Extension office.

Is It Legal?

Many people are unaware of regulations governing wildlife species in Arkansas and the agencies responsible for managing and protecting them.  Check with the following applicable entities before implementing any practice, including live trapping and electrical fencing. IT IS ILLEGAL TO KILL WILDLIFE USING TOXICANTS OR POISONS IN ARKANSAS, even if available commercially or recommended in another state. This includes moles and gophers.  Rodenticides may be used to control mice and rats, but poisons or chemicals may not be used to kill any other animal.

Local Homeowners Associations

• Check your homeowner association’s rules and regulations.  There may be restrictions about electrical fencing, trapping, and other practices.

City Governments

• Some cities have specific rules and regulations governing wildlife trapping and removal.  Check first before using a live trap, as a permit may be required.

State Government

• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission allows landowners (or their designees) to use live traps (cage traps) at any time without a Depredation Permit.  Trapping in towns must be in compliance with local ordinances.  Live-trapped wildlife must be released unharmed outside the municipality’s boundaries within 24 hours.  The trap must have the trapper’s name and address, or his vehicle operator’s license number or the current vehicle license number affixed to the trap. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Code Book governs all interactions with wildlife. 
• The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission inventories threatened and endangered wildlife and their associated habitats in the state.

Federal Government

• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services - Arkansas provides federal leadership in managing problems associated with wildlife.  They work to alleviate wildlife damage to property, agriculture, natural resources, and human health and safety.
  
  
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages and regulates migratory species in cooperation with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.  The Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office (501-513-4470) is located in Conway.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for migratory species and federally listed threatened and endangered species.

Nuisance Wildlife Permits

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission allows many nuisance wildlife species (other than migratory birds and endangered species) that are causing damage to personal property to be taken during daylight hours or trapped the entire year.  Currently, English sparrows, blackbirds, starlings, and crows committing damage to agriculture crops and personal property may be taken without a permit. Beaver, coyote, muskrat, nutria, opossum, raccoon, squirrel, striped skunk and non-game wildlife (other than migratory birds and endangered species) that are causing damage to personal property may be taken during daylight hours or trapped the entire year.

For those experiencing economic hardships or human health risks, state and sometimes federal wildlife agencies can issue special permits for removing or taking protected animals.  Oftentimes wildlife must be affecting your livelihood causing substantial economic loss, or a severe health and safety concern.

A Depredation Permit issued by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is required to:

• trap nuisance game animals other than beaver, coyote, muskrat, nutria, opossum, raccoon, squirrel and striped skunk that are causing damage and are taken during daylight hours. 
  
  
• to shoot any wildlife at night.

Wildlife must be handled in a manner consistent with the permit.  Check with your regional Arkansas Game and Fish office to make sure these laws are still in effect before removing any nuisance wildlife.  Agencies have different jurisdiction depending on the wildlife species involved.  Contact the following agencies for information about nuisance wildlife permits.

Migratory birds (including black vultures, cormorants)

USDA APHIS Wildlife Services  (501-835-2318)

Stuttgart office (870–673–1121)

 

Deer Permits

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (800-364-4263)

Furbearers at night (coyote, beaver, skunk)

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission(800-364-4263)

Special Hunt Permits (deer, turkey, alligator, elk, geese)

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (800-364-4263)

Endangered species

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Conway office (501-513-4470)