I HATE killing anything. I'd rather do just about anything else. It has to be done on occasion though, so it's always best to know what you're comfortable with. We are in the wildlife removal business. Sometimes people are asking for problems (leaving pet food out, etc.), so we try to resolve those issues before removing anything. If the animal is truly a problem (killing livestock, risking the safety of children, etc.) then it has to go. We are often called about sick and injured wildlife, as they're more likely to make trouble out of desperation.
There are valid reasons for the laws against relocating wildlife. I get that these animals are cute, but moving them isn't just going to make trouble for other people. The individual animal is going to have to find a new resources. Some species are very territorial, and you're killing them by moving them out of their territory and into someone else's. Moving them "far away from other people" is no consolation to the wildlife in the area to which you are moving these animals. You are introducing diseases, parasites, and bad behavior to a whole new population.
Consider WHY you want to relocate something. Is it for the well being of the animal, or are you just trying to avoid feeling bad temporarily? If you think a few miles is enough to keep them out of trouble with people, you're wrong. Yes, raccoons ARE highly intelligent. That's why they make so much trouble. If you think a chicken killing, trap savvy, female raccoon, won't teach every one of her offspring to do the same thing, you're still wrong.
I'll tell you what's even cuter than a raccoon. A litter of coydog pups. They're stinkin' adorable! Even better when they live behind a housing development and grow up without a fear of people. EVEN BETTER when they play tug of war with a little girl's cat in her front yard in broad daylight. Maybe we should move them somewhere else, because they are smart and cute after all.
There are valid reasons for the laws against relocating wildlife. I get that these animals are cute, but moving them isn't just going to make trouble for other people. The individual animal is going to have to find a new resources. Some species are very territorial, and you're killing them by moving them out of their territory and into someone else's. Moving them "far away from other people" is no consolation to the wildlife in the area to which you are moving these animals. You are introducing diseases, parasites, and bad behavior to a whole new population.
Consider WHY you want to relocate something. Is it for the well being of the animal, or are you just trying to avoid feeling bad temporarily? If you think a few miles is enough to keep them out of trouble with people, you're wrong. Yes, raccoons ARE highly intelligent. That's why they make so much trouble. If you think a chicken killing, trap savvy, female raccoon, won't teach every one of her offspring to do the same thing, you're still wrong.
I'll tell you what's even cuter than a raccoon. A litter of coydog pups. They're stinkin' adorable! Even better when they live behind a housing development and grow up without a fear of people. EVEN BETTER when they play tug of war with a little girl's cat in her front yard in broad daylight. Maybe we should move them somewhere else, because they are smart and cute after all.
