Wildlife, Wild Animal Nuisances

Contents

• About Wildlife
• Bears
• Coyotes
• Geese, Ducks, and Other Waterfowl
• Pigeons and other Roosting Birds
• Sample Ordinance Provisions
• Additional Information Resources
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Feral Cat Control
  • Rodents

About Wildlife

This page addresses problems posed by pigeons, geese, and other fowl, and animals such as coyotes, deer, bear opossums, and skunks. Some interaction with wildlife is regulated by the federal and state governments. Wildlife species classified as threatened or endangered in Washington are listed in WAC 232-12-011 and WAC 232-12-014. Most of the state regulations governing wildlife are found in Title 77 RCW.

• Wildlife Damage Management, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA ), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
• Living with Wildlife, USDA APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fact Sheet, 11/2001
• Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Living with Wildlife
  • Nuisance Wildlife
  • Species Fact Sheets: Mammals - Birds - Reptiles and Amphibians
• Bald Eagle Management and Protection in Washington State, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife

Bears

• Issaquah Bear Awareness: Safety Tips
• Living with Wildlife - Black Bears, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife

Coyotes

• Coyotes, Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
• Coyote Control and Management Information, Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
• Coyotes, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Living with Wildlife
• Urban and Suburban Coyotes, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services Fact Sheet, 04/2002
• Born to Be Wild, by Jonathan Schechter, Parks and Recreation, 09/2007 - Keep coyotes from getting too comfortable in public places (Available through MRSC Library Loan)
• Teaching People and Coyotes How to Peacefully Coexist, Humane Society of the United States

Geese, Ducks, and Other Waterfowl

A number of municipalities have created regulatory provisions regarding the feeding of wild geese. Most ordinance provisions address the feeding of birds and other animals on public, usually park, property, to control their numbers and reduce property damage and health hazards.

• Assistance With Waterfowl, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services Fact Sheet, 11/2001
• GeesePeace - Building better communities though innovative, effective, and humane solutions to wildlife conflicts
• Snow Geese, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Canada Geese

Canada geese are considered a "migratory" species and are federally protected under four bilateral migratory bird treaties. Regulations allowing the take of migratory birds are authorized by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 703-711), which implements the four treaties. The Act provides that, subject to the treaties, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to determine when, to what extent, and by what means it is compatible with the conventions to allow hunting, killing, and other forms of taking of migratory birds, their nests, and eggs. The Act requires the Secretary to implement a determination by adopting regulations permitting and governing those activities.

In recent years, numbers of Canada geese have undergone dramatic growth to population levels that are increasingly coming into conflict with people and causing personal and public property damage. The Fish and Wildlife Service believes that resident Canada goose populations must be reduced, more effectively managed, and controlled to reduce goose-related damages. New rules went into effect on September 11, 2006 that authorize state wildlife agencies, private landowners, and airports to conduct (or allow) indirect and/or direct population control management activities, including the take of birds, on resident Canada goose populations.

• Migratory Bird Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
  • Final Environmental Impact Statement: Resident Canada Goose Management
• Management of Canada Goose Nesting (), USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services , 08/2009
• 2009 Interlocal Agreement for Waterfowl Management Program () - Programs involve Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Mercer Island, Renton, Sea-Tac, Woodinville, Mountlake Terrace, Tukwila, the University of Washington, and the Port of Seattle/Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Pigeons and Similar Roosting Birds

Pigeon control can be controversial, especially if the local government chooses an approach that involves killing. A number of cities regulate the number of pigeons a person can maintain. From a health view, pigeons can carry infectious diseases, though the incidence is low. There are state laws relating to certain types of pigeons - Antwerp Messenger or Racing Pigeon:

• RCW 9.61.190 - It is a class 1 civil infraction for any person, other than the owner thereof or his authorized agent, to knowingly shoot, kill, maim, injure, molest, entrap, or detain any Antwerp Messenger or Racing Pigeon, commonly called "carrier or racing pigeons", having the name of its owner stamped upon its wing or tail or bearing upon its leg a band or ring with the name or initials of the owner or an identification or registration number stamped thereon.
• RCW 9.61.200 - It is a class 2 civil infraction for any person other than the owner thereof or his authorized agent to remove or alter any stamp, leg band, ring, or other mark of identification attached to any Antwerp Messenger or Racing Pigeon.

While a local government can regulate citizens feeding pigeons (see ordinance provisions on feeding wildlife below), the solution thought to be most effective is pigeon eradication programs, which can be controversial.

• Pigeon Control (), Alameda County, CA Vector Control Services District, revised 04/13/2001
• Pigeons (), by Judy Loven, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Purdue University Department of Entomology, ADM-1
• Pigeons (Rock Doves) (), by David E. Williams, State Director, USDA, APHIS, Animal Damage Control, Lincoln, Nebraska; and Robert M. Corrigan, Vertebrate Pest Management Purdue University, Internet Center for Wildlife Damage, University of Nebraska, 1995
• Pocket Guide to the Humane Control of Wildlife, Humane Society of the United States - Provides humane techniques to remove pigeon populations (Available through MRSC Library Loan)
• Toronto, Canada Staff Report on Pigeon Feeding (), from Medical Officer of Health, to the Board of Health, 05/2008
• Sample Ordinances
  • Hamilton, Ontario By-Law No. 02-136 () - To Regulate Pigeon Pests
  • Oakland, CA Council Agenda Report on Ordinance to Prohibit the Feeding of Feral Pigeons in Commercial Zones (), May 2007
  • Redmond, WA Ordinance No. 2294 (), passed 07/18/2006 - Prohibits the feeding of feral pigeons; includes memo from mayor to council

Sample Ordinance Provisions

• Burien Municipal Code Ch. 6.40 - Feeding of Birds and Wildlife
• Bellevue Municipal Code Sec. 3.43.090 - Feeding of Animals
• Everett Municipal Code Ch. 8.52 - Feeding Ducks
• Lynnwood Municipal Code Sec. 10.04.875 - Feeding Animals or Leaving Foodstuffs on Public Property
• Ocean Shores Ordinance No. 775 (), passed 05/2004 - Human Feeding of Wild Birds

Additional Information Resources

• Urban Wildlife, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies
• Humane Society of the United States
  • Wild Neighbors
  • Urban Wildlife Sanctuary Program
• Internet Center for Wildlife Damage, University of Nebraska - This website was funded through a grant of the National IPM Network and CSREES. The principle investigators are Scott Hygnstrom, Professor and Extension Specialist of Wildlife Damage at the University of Nebraska, Paul Curtis, Assistant Professor of Wildlife Damage Management at Cornell University, New York, Robert Schmidt, Associate Professor and Wildlife Damage Specialist at Utah State University, and Greg Yarrow, Associate Professor of Wildlife, Clemson University, South Carolina.
• Living with Wildlife - Publications of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Port of Seattle Wildlife Management Program
• Puget Sound Marine Area Bluffs: Human/Wildlife Conflicts, Greenbelt Consulting
• National Wildlife Control Operators Association
• Wildlife Management Conflict, Purdue University Department of Entomology
• Vertebrate Damage Management Resource Guide, Oregon State University Extension Service
• Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife

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Related MRSC Resources

MRSC Index - Rodents, wildlife and wild animals as nuisances, including feeding of wildlife