We receive many calls from residents requesting the trapping and removal of wildlife on their property. While we do provide trap rentals and pick up for raccoons, skunks and opossums, we advocate tolerance and deterrents over trapping.

Trapping and relocating wild animals is not an effective longterm solution for wildlife inconveniences. Because wild animals are abundant in our foothill communities, trapping will not solve the problem.   Wildlife populations are controlled by the food, water and shelter available in an area.  Until you minimize these resources in your yard, trapping one animal only vacates the space for another animal to move into. 

What attracts wildlife?
Addressing the cause of the problem is more successful in solving the situation in the long run.  Wildlife is attracted to areas with available food, water and shelter.  Pet food or water outside, fruit ripe on trees or fallen on the ground, outdoor pets, fish ponds, pools or hot tubs, are food sources that may attract wildlife.  Any opening under your home, open door, woodpile or excess brush can be used as shelter by wildlife.  By limiting the availibility of these resources in your yard, you make the area less appealing to wildlife and limit their visits to your property. 

Trappers cannot be certain that the animals they capture are the same animals causing the problem.  In many instances, the tasty food in your trap can attract wildlife that have never visited your property before. In addition to being ineffective for solving wildlife conflicts, trapping injured  individual animals as they attempt to escape confinement of the trap.  In addition, relocated animals have a difficult time adapting to their new environment.. Unsure of where to find food, water and shelter, the animals are susceptible to disease, starvation and predators.  We do not advocate trapping wildlife during the spring and summer months.  During this time many animals have young to care for.  Young wildlife that are orphaned when their mother is trapped and relocated are unlikely to survive.

If the above information do not answer your questions or concerns, please contact our Wildlife Officer at 626-792-7151 x110.

See our Deterring Wildlife article for helpful tips!