Nuisance Critters And NCWRC
July 29, 2009
Most people like wildlife until it becomes a nuisance or a threat to them or their property. A couple of stories in the news today with foxes terrorizing Wake County and a bear with cubs in the mountains doing the same thing.
Nancy Nau has felt like a hostage for the last six weeks, threatened by a fox that appears around her Quail Hollow home and barks at her and her two cocker spaniels.
On Saturday, she watched as the fox squeezed through fence posts to get into her backyard. She and her neighbors have spotted it with what they believe are its two babies. She can’t grill outdoors and has to let her dogs relieve themselves in her garage. She drives a few minutes to Eastgate Park so they can get some exercise and fresh air.
“I’m a prisoner in my own home,” she said.
NCWRC does not control trapping of foxes that is set by the counties. Wake county does not have a fox trapping season despite what appears to be an increase in the population. Whether it is an actual increase or just more encounters with humans due to habitat loss is up for debate. Homeowners have few options because NCWRC will not intervene unless the animal is sick or a significant threat.
Joe Folta, the commission’s wildlife biologist for District 3, which includes Wake County, said state law gives residents two options.
If an animal causes at least $50 of property damage or poses an imminent threat, homeowners can shoot it as long as local laws allow it. If an animal is killed, the death must be reported to the commission within 24 hours.
If shooting an animal isn’t an option, residents can apply for a permit, which would allow them, a family member, a neighbor or a wildlife damage-control agent to trap the fox.
Photo by Moose
Then in the mountains a bear with cubs have been stealing chickens from a family.
Cindy Woody feels as if she is running a fast-food restaurant.
A 400-pound black bear and her three cubs have stolen all of Woody’s 30 chickens out of her family’s chicken house over the past month, ripping through the chicken wire and wooden walls, leaving behind only feathers and body parts.
A flattened dog pen and mangled cage in the Woody’s backyard are all that remain of the bears’ latest foray into her coop Monday night. The family has three chickens left in a small coop in the backyard, but Woody says she thinks it is only a matter of time before the bear eats them, too.
“It’s a Chick-fil-A down there,” Woody said.
Some want NCWRC to move the bears but studies show that bears once moved will almost always return to the area so it’s not a viable option.
As for killing a nuisance bear, the commission will not consider it unless the bear is endangering a person, but Carraway said residents can check with the commission to determine if they would be justified in killing the bear themselves. People who kill a bear without justification can face a fine.
Woody said she would kill the bear herself but said her neighbors would “pitch a fit.”
The property owner should be able to protect her livestock and property just like the people having fox problems.
NCWRC offers education and plans on how people should avoid negative interactions with a variety of wildlife. Common Sense is to avoid if possible access to food sources. They will not remove the nuisance critter and in many cases if they can’t be encouraged to move on killing the animal is the only option. Large landowners may consider controlling critters before they become a problem through hunting and trapping as set out by NCWRC .
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