Just A Reminder!

Well... we finally got that break in the weather we were so anxiously waiting for.  Our winters here are why we tolerate the summers, right?  With the change of weather comes a seasonal reminder, "DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE!".  I hate to repeat myself, but some recent incidents make it worth repeating.  I have received a number of calls lately, regarding wildlife encounters of the "too close for comfort" kind.  After just a little investigating, I learned that it was all due to someone feeding the animals.  Some intentionally, some not so much.  The sad reality is it all could have been avoided in the first place. 

The Ringtail in the photo, a cousin of the Racoon and Arizona State Mammal, was trapped in the attic of a woman who fed her dogs outside.  When she discovered it was eating the dog food, she decided she should "help" it by feeding it in its own dish.  The Ringtail quickly moved in.  To make matters worse, this went on for over six months.  The animal by now had gotten into the HVAC system and made itself at home.  Turn on the AC and all you get is the funky aroma of musk, urine and feces which, by the way, had now saturated the ceiling and created a large hole through which the Ringtail was coming and going into the kitchen.  After a family intervention, I was called to remove the animal.  I climbed up the ladder to the attic and set my trap.  Ah, but what shall I use as bait?  The lady of the house said she had baked it some chicken, but her children would not let her feed it.  Baked chicken it is!  I placed a small portion in the trap and before I could climb down from the ladder the trap had been sprung.  I thought perhaps that it had malfunctioned.  Imagine my surprise to climb up and find the Ringtail already in the trap!  And he was VERY unhappy about this new dining arrangement.  VERY unhappy!  Now the family was looking at tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to the attic and HVAC.  Soiled insulation, damaged and soiled duct work, sheetrock, stains, etc.  Just because she thought it was cute and needed her help.

This was the worst example of the latest issues I have helped with.  The Javelinas invading the vegetable garden, well, that is a tough one, but they will move on once the veggies are gone.  I prefer the lazy method of buying produce from the grocery store.  Not as rewarding but far more consistant.  And no critters to contend with, except for the cougar that rammed me with her cart ;>)

So one more time with feeling and maybe a little cowbell, "DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE!".  It is far more rewarding if we are NOT their grocery store.  And it is AGAINST ARIZONA STATE LAW.  Happy Holidays!

Mark - Naturally!