SOLUTIONS FOR CONFLICT WITH WILDLIFE

At Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, we receive numerous inquiries each year requesting advice for 'problem' wildlife such as coyotes, skunks, hares, crows, hawks and even moose! Given that our mandate is to aid Alberta's native wildlife, we promote tolerance and try to provide humane solutions. Often there are misconceptions about the animals and their behaviour. People are often unaware of the important roles these animals play in our ecosystems. Scroll through this screen to find information and solutions to your dilemma. If this screen fails to answer your questions, please phone our Wildlife Control Hotline at (403) 946 2361,

Look closely at this planter box...

CROWS AND MAGPIES:

Crows and Magpies are some of the most misunderstood of all birds. They are extremely intelligent, form strong family bonds (we've even seen them form bonds with other species of birds) and are amazing parents. They are fantastic nest 'architects', so good in fact that non-nest builders, such as Great Horned owls, use these amazing structures for their own nesting sites. They are opportunistic feeders, and will feed on insects, carrion and even clean up after littering humans! They also eat rodents and small birds which may make them unpopular, but many other birds are meat eaters as well. This is normal and natural. Although they not blessed with the lovely song of a Robin or Warbler, their plumage is beautiful and glossy and their behavior is marked by intelligence, teamwork, and playfulness. Try to enjoy and appreciate these birds and recognize their high population success may be a result of human activity. Removing possible food sources by keeping pet food covered, securing garbage in closed containers or using squirrel-proof bird feeders, the crows and magpies will be less attracted to your neighbourhood.

SKUNKS:

Skunks are another animal we receive many inquiries about. These adorable omnivores, that eat huge quantities of insects and small rodents, are not intent on sraying everything in site. Their spray is a defense mechanism against mortal danger, and if they are seriously threatened and are not given the space to run away, they are faced with no alternative but to spray. People often call for advice on how to get rid of these important little critters. If you are lucky enough to have a mother and her litter calling your home, their home, don't panic. The skunks are already aware of your presence, and if you respect them and can give them a little wider berth, it's unlikely that you'll have any problems. You can even warn them of your presence by making small noises or talking gently to them. [We know of many instances where humans and skunks co-exist quite peacefully.] Soon enough the mother will move the whole litter on.

If you've found a skunk in your window well, you will have to provide it with a structure to help it climb out. Surprisingly, skunks aren't fantastic climbers. A piece of old carpet, lumber, etc. will provide the ramp needed for them to carry on. If you ever have the opportunity to observe a family of skunks, you'll be entertained by their antics!

DIVE-BOMBING BIRDS:

If a bird is dive-bombing you, you are most likely near it's nest and/or young. Although having a Red-Tailed Hawk dive-bomb your head can be very frightening, they rarely make contact and you certainly have to admire how fiercely loyal and protective the parents are of their young! A few simple measures can be taken to avoid any contact. First of all you can exit the area. If however they've taken up residence in a tree in your yard, that's not very practical. Instead, you can wear a big hat or hold a towel above your head or even better hold an umbrella while walking near the nest (at the very least, your neighbours will be entertained by your antics!). Consider yourself fortunate to have such a wonderful bird in your area.

WILD ANIMALS IN YOUR GARDEN?

Do you have hares, porcupines or deer eating your garden?

There are many plants you can grow that are unattratctive to deer (see the link, deer 'resistant' plants for a list of plants generally unattractive to deer). However, a great deal of plants are considered delicious to animals. Here are a few simple ideas to prevent them from dining on your garden. Of course you can fence the yard and/or garden. Some people have had success with spraying their plants with a dilute mixture of water and tabasco and/or cayenne. Others have had some success with using motion activated sprinklers, or objects that move in the wind, such as pie plates, balloons, or plastic bags. Human hair may also be a deterrent. Ask your local hair salon for a bag of it and spread it around your garden as a deterrent. Another smell that wild mammals don't favour is general purpose ammonia. This can be purchased inexpensively at any grocery store, then soaked in rags or sprayed daily for several days. (Caution: ammonia is not the same as bleach.)