Webinar presenter Lynsey White answered a number of your questions after her presentation, Handling “Nuisance” Wildlife Calls. Here are just a few of her responses.
Audience Question: How does one ensure that mom is in the attic before you install the one-way door to physically go up and confirm she’s there or how do you do that?
Lynsey White: Well, you don’t need to confirm that she’s in the attic when you install the one-way door. Because if she’s not in the attic, then the one way door will simply keep her from re-entering. (And if she IS in the attic, then the one-way door will allow her to leave, but not re-enter.) You do need to have someone go up into and inspect the attic, however, to see if any cubs are up there. If so, they need to be carefully put into a reunion box and placed up on the roof immediately outside the entry/exit point (fitted with the one-way door) so that mom can retrieve and move them.
Audience Question: Are you aware of any lists of humane operators and consultants that people might be able to refer to? And whether or not HSUS is considering creating a list or developing a certification?
Lynsey White: Yes, we have thought about both creating a certification process and maintaining a list of humane operators, but it’s proven to be too complicated logistically to do. We do have a webinar available on our website (www.humanepro.org/wildlifewebinars) about working with wildlife control operators that should be helpful in finding a humane option and/or working with your existing options to help them become more humane. Additionally, if you have questions about particular companies or want more guidance, then you can reach out to us and we can help you with that, too.
Audience Question: Are you aware of any classes or if HSUS offers classes for wildlife rehabilitators?
Lynsey White: That’s not something that we offer classes on at this time – I would suggest checking with your state wildlife agency or the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.
Host: There’s an organization called Animal Help Now. I found the website AHnow.org. That supposedly has a list. I haven’t been able to obviously, go through that enough, to be able to confirm that. If any of you want to try looking through there and see if there’s a list or certification process.
Audience Question: Do you have any suggestions on dealing with snakes, specifically rattlesnakes?
Lynsey White: We do have a chapter in our Humane Wildlife Resolution Guide on snake (it’s one of our newer chapters) – I probably would start there. We also have a webpage with additional information – humanesociety.org/snakes. And then, if you have any more specific questions, you can e-mail me, and we can answer them.
Host: On those classes being offered to wildlife rehabbers, the IWRCNNWR are able to refer to those classes. And moth balls don’t work on snakes.
Lynsey White: We don’t recommend the use of moth balls at all (for any species), as they are toxic to both animals and people. Vinegar can be an effective repellent for many species, but I don’t know about its effectiveness for snakes.
