Animal relocation.

[varidgerunner]

Relocation is harmful for everyone except, perhaps, the clueless idiot who does it.
If I need to get rid of a problem animal, it will simply be shot. A quick and easy death rather than a slow painful one via relocation.

Nope. It's harmful for the clueless people that do it too. Just think, if they use a car and then get groceries they could be putting their entire family at risk from all kinds of diseases. Raccoon roundworms is a good topic of study. They could even use a contaminated cage to infect wildlife and pets that are released on site.

Definitely kill what you trap, if you trap. if it didn't deserve killing then don't kill it by hauling it 20 miles away to starve to death, don't set the trap in the first place.

 

[varidgerunner]

The title of this thread is "animal relocation", and though I realize that most who have participated are focused on raccoons, there are animals that can be relocated without issue, and I will point out that I relocate some animals from time to time when I see fit, and I can assure everyone I'm far from "clueless" on the issue.

I'm all for educating others about the issues created when relocating nuisance wildlife, and I agree with the idea of building a run a coop that prevents depredation, but there are exceptions to the "never relocate" mantra. And I don't see the value in using inflammatory language like "clueless idiot" in any discussion

So with that in mind, I will say that my coop and run are built with the local predators in mind, electric fencing is not an option currently because there is no electric to my out building. I do not let my chickens range at this point, because I know I would have losses if i did....but this is the reality of keeping chickens where I live, and I recognize others have different issues and options where they live.

But even with these measures in place, I still trap critters to reduce the population and minimize the chances of loss, because I am surrounded by farmland and wilderness. I do some of this in accordance with state nuisance wildlife regulations, and much of this in accordance with the fall fur bearer trapping seasons and regulations. As a trapper I have always released "incidental" or "non target" catches. This is standard practice among trappers. Often relocating the animal a short distance will prevent it from ending up right back in the trap and getting in the way of catching the target animal.

Like wise I have caught non target animals around the chicken coop, and have relocated them to a different part of the property as needed in order to prevent them from getting in the trap again the next day. A bit of common sense goes a long way in determining when this appropriate and when it is not... but obviously releasing animals that show signs of disease should be avoided.

I've caught and relocated protected species such as birds of prey, as well as desirable animals such as large black rat snakes as well, and I see no issues with doing so, and would hope that others would use a bit of common sense in these cases and see them as exceptions.

While I agree that building a critter proof coop and run should be more of a priority than many folks make it, and that relocating (raccoons in particular) should be avoided in many/most cases, I don't agree with this idea that there are no exceptions to releasing and/or relocating animals, and I do not agree with the idea of using aggressive language in a friendly discussion to talk about the issue.

I would encourage everyone to realize that the person who keeps chickens in Tuscon, AZ is going to have different issues, regulations, and real world challenges concerning predators than the person in Maine, or the person in Iowa, or the person in Hawaii... or even the person that lives just down the road, out side of Tuscon in a more rural setting... and these differences in locations can help inform us all, if we open our minds and realize that not everyone keeping chickens has the same issues and options that we ourselves might have.

Releasing on site is not relocating. Releasing a short distance away is not relocating. Has very little impact, as nothing is changed, animal is still in it's home territory in familiar surroundings. Most animals taken out of their home range do poorly. Some animals can damage their teeth or claws on the cage which reduces survival after being trapped even after being released within their home range..

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Releasing on site is not relocating...

The previous poster wrote: "... But if you do elect to you trap it, you kill it. No exceptions."

There are exceptions when release and/or relocation make sense, this is the point I was speaking to.

I'm not going to agree with the idea that if I trap it, I must kill it, as I simply know better.

I do agree with the general idea that it is best not to relocate, and with the idea that making the coop and run predator proof should be a higher priority than trapping to protect birds that are vulnerable due to housing that does not protect them.

I think this is an important topic, and don't disagree with the overall idea, but there are exceptions.

 

[Redhead Rae]

The previous poster wrote: "... But if you do elect to you trap it, you kill it. No exceptions."

There are exceptions when release and/or relocation make sense, this is the point I was speaking to.

I think they were overstating their point. If you catch the neighbors cat, or a squirrel in your live trap that you set for a coon, of course you don't kill it

 

[varidgerunner]

The general intent of this thread was to show people that think that they are not harming animals by relocating them, are in many cases causing much harm, to not just the animals they relocate, but to wild populations, as well as themselves and other humans. Death that results from relocation is very likely to be slow and agonizing, taking many months of suffering to eventually kill the animal. Killing them is much more kind than relocating out of their familiar territory. Releasing non target animals on site is not the issue. Releasing animals in locations still within their home range, while having little impact on the animal, will do little to remedy any issue the animal was causing.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

I think they were overstating their point. If you catch the neighbors cat, or a squirrel in your live trap that you set for a coon, of course you don't kill it

I think you are right... but likewise if I am trapping for that big lanky boar raccoon that has been on my camera digging at the run, and I end up with a possum or maybe a younger raccoon that is not the target animal, but just happened to smell some cat food... I know there are options other than dispatch.

I'm not saying that if someone else in that situation were to choose that option, that they are wrong.... I'm simply saying there are other options.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

The general intent of this thread was to show people that think that they are not harming animals by relocating them....

I think we can agree that it is a "best practice" to dispatch problem animals rather than relocate them, and that helping to educate people with good intentions about the unintended consequences of relocating trapped critters is important.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I think you are right... but likewise if I am trapping for that big lanky boar raccoon that has been on my camera digging at the run, and I end up with a possum or maybe a younger raccoon that is not the target animal, but just happened to smell some cat food... I know there are options other than dispatch.

I'm not saying that if someone else in that situation were to choose that option, that they are wrong.... I'm simply saying there are other options.

Any coon or possum that gets caught in my traps are dealt with. Babies become adults and I've had a possum kill a chicken, though it was my fault because the mobile coop wasn't secure and we hadn't repaired it yet because it was stuck in ice.

 

[Alexandra33]

In Ohio, if you trap what's considered a "nuisance" animal (mainly those that are carriers of rabies), you're required by law to either release on your property, or dispose of it humanely. Relocation is illegal. Not sure how it works elsewhere, but that's what's set in stone over here.

Not to say certain individuals in our state don't do it anyway....but if they wish to go ahead and illegally relocate at the risk of others' health, property, and/or livestock, plus the animal's well-being, they may potentially face the consequences. I'll take no part in it. Anything causing enough trouble to be deemed worthy of trapping receives an instant, painless death. My problem will not become someone else's problem.

~Alex

 

[bobbi-j]

Here's my solution to "relocation". Instead of taking them 'out to the country', (I live in the country - I don't want your nuisance animals) you should take them to town. Seriously. In the country, you are probably releasing them in unknown territory, where another animal of its kind has already taken up residence and will likely kill your poor trapped animal. But in town... consider the possibilities! There are dumpsters, cat food and dog food left out all night, and so many garbage cans to go through! It would be paradise! Water would be available, too. Again - cat and dog dishes left out at night, sprinklers and fountains. And I would think that they would be used to sharing their space more closely with other raccoons (or whatever one feels the need to dump off... er, relocate). Yep, the more I think about it, the more I like it.