Wildlife in urban areas is becoming a common occurrence. With the amount of wildlife in Illinois, it is only natural as areas develop more and more encroachment of wildlife habit ant takes place. Couple development with green spaces and trails, which give wildlife easy access to developed areas and the problems grow.

Feeding wildlife only causes them to be more dependent on the human population. They lose fear of humans through the feeding process, and gather in larger groups than is natural because of created feeding stages. The following tips will help you make sure you don't provide a wildlife attraction at your home.

• Do not allow wildlife to have access to food you place outside for your domestic pets such as cats and dogs. If you have to feed your pets outside, pick up any left over food immediately.
• Protect your garbage. Make sure lids are tight and cannot be opened. A simpler solution would be to keep garbage cans inside a garage if possible.
• Watch over your garden, harvesting fruits and vegetables as soon as possible.
• If you feed wild birds, make sure the feeders are out of reach of other wildlife.
• Do not put any other type of food out for wildlife or stray cats. Placing this food in your yard will attract many types of wildlife.
• Do not provide shelter for wildlife. A shed in poor repair is an invitation to wildlife. Make sure crawl space vents are covered or screened. Check under your eaves to make sure there is no entrance there. Prune branches that overhang your house. Deny access to wildlife by weather stripping around doors and windows.
• If you have had your home invaded, try and make their surroundings less inviting. Turn on bright lights, or play a radio loudly. Sometimes they can be deterred with mothballs or ammonia-soaked rags. Remember your pet needs to be protected from these same measures. Once nuisance wildlife has left, remember to wildlife proof your home.

Remember in many cases, we have entered with wildlife's territory, or invited it to our homes through our own actions. Preventative action will help avoid further problems.

Any questions regarding wildlife can be directed to Animal Control Officer Sandy Golliher at 847-348-7221 or by email.

Additional Resources:

Visit Wildlife Illinois website for more information on coexisting with wildlife in Illinois. You will find valuable information on how to identify the animal that has become a nuisance and solutions on how to deal with the problems the animal is causing.