Critter control:
The Danger Behind Nuisance Wildlife Control Companies

Please protect our animals...

As cities continue to grow and encroach upon wildlife habitats, there are increasingly more and more "problems" when animal and human habitats collide. When confronted with "nuisance" wildlife problems, many people believe the quickest, easiest way to deal with such problems is to call animal or wildlife control companies. What many don't realize is that many of these companies will trap and kill whatever enters into their traps, including "non-target animals" and then charge the property owner for such services. This not only includes wildlife such as raccoons, squirrels, or rabbits, but may include cats and people's pets.

This is what happened to my cat. On November 4, 2003, one animal control company, Critter Control, baited, trapped, and killed cats in our quiet residential neighborhood in Toledo, Ohio. One of the cats they trapped and killed matched the description of my cat named Franc, according to Critter Control employees. Franc was a friendly, groomed, domesticated, neutered male tiger cat. The cat was trapped just yards from our front door and killed in Critter Control’s gas chamber the same day he was picked up from the trap according to Critter Control. There was no time to save him. The body was sent to a landfill so we could not identify him nor bury him. We will never be the same without him.

Before you hire a nuisance wildlife operator, please be aware that there are better, more humane solutions to dealing with animal control problems! Do not let these companies trap and kill indiscriminately and make you pay for it. Many companies use only non-lethal methods and you can always demand that all non-target animals such as cats be released on site.

The best, safest, and most cost-effective method however is to simply take appropriate steps to keep animals out of any area you don't want them. Whether it is keeping raccoons out of trash cans or getting squirrels out of your attic, there are simple steps you can take to prevent and keep animals out. Please see the Fund for Animals'
Problem Solving Solutions
for information on how to deal with woodchucks, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, deer, bears, geese, pigeons, coyotes, foxes, beavers, and bats.

Another company called "Havahart" carries a variety of "caring control for pets and wildlife" that are cruelty-free:

If all else fails, the Fund for Animals has established some very good guidelines when dealing with "Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators." See their
Guidelines and Recommendations
if you must deal with these companies.

If you or someone you know has been taken advantage of by an animal control company or has lost a pet to one of these companies, please email me:
RevRebecca@franciscan-anglican.com

Home