PHOENIX — Wildlife has been active in the mild winter climate of Arizona’s lower and mid elevations, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been receiving increased reports of human-wildlife conflicts in many parts of the state.
Here’s some recent activity:
* The Tucson area has received more than 20 wildlife feeding complaints since August – made all the more concerning in light of the fact that Pima County has seen an uptick in wildlife rabies cases this year.
* Pima County is also seeing issues involving unsecured backyard chickens and livestock, which bobcats and other predators see as an easy meal.
* The communities of Peeples Valley and Yarnell southwest of Prescott are dealing with a growing number of nuisance deer and javelina conflicts due to people feeding wildlife.
* There have been reports of conflicts with coyotes and javelina due to wildlife feeding in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas, as well as in Sedona and Lake Havasu City. Most callers are seeing these animals in their backyards and are concerned about the safety of their pets.
* Payson, Pine and Strawberry continue to have nuisance elk and deer issues due to wildlife feeding. These instances are leading to property damage and an increased chance of potentially fatal vehicle-wildlife collisions.
The root cause of most human-wildlife conflicts is giving wildlife easy access to food, water and/or shelter.
“People who love wildlife should understand that feeding wild animals or leaving food accessible to them is not a good practice and can put the animal and people in danger,” said Darren Julian, AZGFD urban wildlife specialist. “When wildlife such as coyotes, javelina, bobcats, bears or mountain lions learn to associate humans with food, they lose their fear of people, and that can lead to conflict situations that end badly for both humans and wildlife.”
Julian added that it’s also important to not accidentally feed wildlife – measures such as landscaping your yard with plants that aren’t attractants to wildlife, picking up downed fruit, or taking in bird feeders can all cut down on unwanted animal behaviors.
AZGFD offers the following tips for people to discourage wild animals from taking up residence in populated areas:
* Don’t feed wildlife. It is unlawful to feed wildlife (except for birds and tree squirrels) in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties per Arizona Revised Statute 13-2927. Some cities and less populated counties have also adopted ordinances against feeding. Check your local city and county ordinances.
* Remove pet food, water bowls, garbage and other attractants from around your home and put them in a secure location inaccessible to wildlife.
* Feed your pets inside and never leave them unattended, especially at dusk and dawn. Predatory animals may opportunistically see small pets as a food source. Keep domestic livestock and poultry in a secure area. Don’t feed feral or “neighborhood” cats.
* Don’t let animals such as coyotes get comfortable in your neighborhood — spray them (from a safe distance) with a hose, throw pebbles in their direction, light up the area at night, or bang pots and pans to keep the animals moving.
* Secure garbage containers and eliminate odors by cleaning trash cans with a 10-percent chlorine bleach solution. Put out trash containers on the morning of pickup, not the night before.
* Keep an eye on small children.
The department’s Living with Wildlife web page has tips for what to do if you encounter a wild animal (these may differ depending on the species).
If a wild animal has attacked or bitten a person, call 911. Anyone bitten should immediately seek medical attention from a qualified healthcare provider.
If you encounter any wildlife acting aggressively toward people, call the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 24-hour Communications Center at 623-236-7201.
AZGFD will respond if there is an immediate public safety threat. The department does not provide removal or capture services for nuisance wildlife but does offer self-help advice. If necessary, homeowners can contact a qualified wildlife control business to attempt to capture and remove nuisance wildlife for a fee. Keep in mind that even if coyotes, javelinas or other animals are removed from an area, others will probably subsequently move in if attractants remain.
Please keep wildlife wild and help reduce the chance of conflicts that can be bad for both wildlife and people.
