Keeping our wildlife wild is probably the most important thing to consider in order to coexist with them peacefully. The more we, as a community, build houses and businesses, the more space that is depleted for our precious wildlife. Hampton Animal Control recognizes that sometimes wildlife can become a nuisance to our residents but we ask that you respect nature and Hampton's wild residents. Here are some tips that can help us all live together safely without conflict.

• Don't feed the wildlife; only admire them from afar.

Dangers of feeding Wildlife

• Animals become habituated to humans and associate them with food. Ultimately, that results in some kind of conflict.
• Animals that are habituated to humans can literally bite the hand that feeds them. Some of our wild animals are highly susceptible to rabies and getting bit by an animal carrying rabies puts you at risk.
• Activities, such as feeding, that concentrate wildlife in one area can also promote the spread of disease. Hampton wants to have healthy wildlife not only for the livelihood of the animals but to keep Hampton safe for its human residents.
• Supplemental feeding of wildlife can also result in an unnatural and unhealthy increase in some animal populations. Feeding wildlife disrupts their migration patterns and concentrates wildlife in a manner that negatively affects habitats and other wildlife species.

Prevention tips

• Secure your home so that wildlife doesn't also feel at home there.
• Check to make sure you have a chimney cap that is secure and in good condition on your chimney. Without one you may just find an animal in the bottom of your fireplace!
• Check the out side of your home regularly for any holes and seal them up.
• Wildlife is always searching for an easy food source so keep trashcan lids on tight.
• Don't feed your pets outside. Wild animals don't know and won't care if the food was put out for them or not!
• Beware that a pet door that allows your cat or dog to go in out of your home at free will also gives a prime opportunity for wildlife to enter and exit.

When to recognize that a wild animal is a danger or real nuisance

• If the wild animal is approaching you, your family, or your pets too closely then it may be time to act (refer to section on remedying dangerous or nuisance wildlife). Generally wildlife will be just as scared of you as you probably are them. This is normal. If a wild animal is getting too close, then it likely will be a danger to you.
• If the animal is damaging your property then you may need to act. Once in a while, a wild animal may get too mischievous and cause damage to your home. This situation likely will need to be rectified.

Is it normal to see a raccoon or fox during the day? I've always heard that if they are out during the day, they are rabid. Is this true?

Our City is continuously growing and developing and due to this, wildlife has little space to live in that is not inhabited also by humans. It is normal for citizens to routinely see many types of wildlife including raccoons, muskrats, opossums, foxes, squirrels, birds, and deer to name a few. Since the animals are living closer to humans they have lost a little of their fear and have adapted to living in closer quarters with us. Due to this, wildlife that we generally think of as nocturnal adapt to our day-time routines. So, just because you see wildlife during the day, doesn't mean it's rabid. Just view it as a better opportunity to admire our beautiful wildlife!

I am afraid my family or pets might be attacked by wildlife

Citizens may be concerned about perceived dangers from these animals. In reality, a person is many times more likely to be harmed by a dog or a cat than one of these animals. However, wildlife is naturally drawn to food sources. The best way to discourage wildlife from visiting your property is not to provide such a food source. This may include removing bird feeders at least temporarily. As for your pet, he or she is much more likely to attack wildlife than the other way around. If your pet is injured as a result, it may have to be quarantined. The best way to protect your pet is to keep them away from wildlife and make sure rabies vaccinations are current.

All about birds

It is unlawful to disturb or destroy the nests of song birds or migratory birds. Often Hampton Animal Control receives calls for injured birds but in actuality they are fledglings or young birds that have not yet learned to fly. They are in flying school of sorts. How to recognize a fledgling:

• Does this bird have short wing and tail feathers?
• Does it hop on the ground and maybe fly for very short distances?
• Does it call to its parents and open its mouth to be fed?
• Observe closely from a distance. Likely the parents also close by.

Fledglings are much better off if left alone so that the parents can care for them. They are experiencing an extremely important part of their development towards independence. Remember that human babies cannot walk on the first attempt and like this, baby birds cannot fly on the first try. They leave the nest and inevitably will land on the ground. They will be fine down there until they get the hang of things. The best protection you can give them is to keep a watchful eye from a distance and to keep you cats inside during this time.

I have found a baby animal or nest of babies. I'm worried that they have been abandoned.

Rabbits

• Baby rabbits leave the nest when they are very tiny. Usually by 3 weeks of age. The mother rabbit will stay away from the nest for long periods of time and often only returns to the nest once a day. Her absence does not mean they are abandoned. Nests are made in the ground and often your pet will come across a nest or you may stumble upon them while doing yard work. The best thing you can do is NOT to remove or disturb the nest but let nature take its course. In most cases, the mother will take good care of her young.

Squirrel and Raccoons

• Storms often cause baby squirrels and baby raccoons to be orphaned since they live high in trees and get blown out. If you find orphaned wildlife the best thing to do is to contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Wildlife Response is a regional organization of licensed wildlife rehabilitators and they can be reached at (757) 543-7000.