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The
Santa Monica Police Department’s Animal Control Section offers the
following information to enable you to live peacefully with the
wildlife community.
Despite
the degree of urban development in Santa Monica, various species of
wild animals have managed to adapt and develop a niche in our
community. The presence
of squirrels, possums, and raccoons in many neighborhoods is not
uncommon, and in some cases these species may be surprisingly
plentiful. Less common
are sightings of coyotes, although evidence of their presence surfaces
on occasion. Sightings of
owls or other raptors are rare but not unheard of.
Do
Not Feed Wildlife*
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Although
we like to think that we are helping wildlife by providing food,
the reality is that:
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Supplemental
feeding encourages wildlife to become dependent on handouts that
are not part of their natural diets.
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Juvenile
animals that are taught to depend on humans sometimes never
develop normal foraging behavior, and could starve if the
artificial food sources are removed.
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Human
foods are usually nutritionally inadequate for wildlife and may
lead to subsequent health problems.
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Wildlife
may lose their fear of humans and pets, a behavior that could
result in wild animals not avoiding contact with aggressive dogs
and cats, or people who might intentionally harm them.
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Wild
animals being fed by humans may congregate in unnaturally high
numbers, increasing the chances of disease transmission.
What
You Can Do
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Keep
garbage in sturdy garbage cans with secure lids.
Thoroughly rinse bottles and cans for recycling, and put
compost in closed bins instead of in an open compost pile.
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Do
not feed your pets outside, or if you must, feed them outside
during the day and take food and water bowls inside during the
night.
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Pets
such as cats, rabbits, and small dogs are easy prey for coyotes.
If you suspect the presence of coyotes in your neighborhood, keep
these pets indoors. Do
not leave small children unattended in areas known to be
frequented by coyotes, even in your yard.
Do
Not Provide Shelter for Wildlife
Following
these precautions will help prevent potential problems and will allow
you to peacefully coexist with wildlife:
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Animals
can squeeze into small spaces in their search for shelter, so
thoroughly check for holes and cracks in and around the foundation
of your home.
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Check
under the eaves and in the attic for openings, and cover any holes
with suitable material, such as hardware cloth.
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Prevent
entry through chimneys and vents by covering these openings with
hardware cloth. Make sure that you are not trapping any animals
inside before you cover these openings.
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Remove
brush piles from your yard, store wood off the ground, and keep
trees and brush pruned away from the house.
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If
you have a dog or cat door, keep it closed in at night to prevent
wild animals from coming inside.
Trapping,
Relocating, or Killing Wild Animals
These
measures fail to address the real problems, and in fact, usually
result in other long‑term complications. When trapped and moved to a new area, a relocated animal will
be on unfamiliar ground, putting it at a distinct disadvantage.
It will not know where to find food, water, or shelter, and
will be extremely stressed from its ordeal of being captured and
handled by humans. Furthermore,
the animal is likely being dumped into an area that already has an
existing population of animals of the same species.
This creates an artificial competition for available resources,
resulting in conflicts with the resident population. Being at such a disadvantage, the introduced animal usually
is forced to move around a lot looking for a suitable home.
Often these animals have to settle for marginal habitat, and
many of them do not survive the ordeal.
Even
though an animal is relocated or killed, other animals will simply
move in to take its place unless the underlying nuisance reason is
removed. Every year young
animals disperse from their parents' home ranges and look for good
habitat to occupy.
There
are many effective, humane, and long‑term solutions to the
problems associated with nuisance wildlife.
These suggestions will help you peacefully coexist with the
wildlife in your neighborhood. It
is when wild animals find three components essential for their
survival ‑ food, water, and shelter ‑‑ in and around
our homes that they often become nuisance animals.
By removing these essential components, the animals are forced
to move on to find them elsewhere.
If
you have and questions please call the Animal Control Section at 310
458-8594.
*
Feeding
squirrels, possums, raccoons and coyotes is prohibited under Section
10.84.010 Los Angeles County Code.
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