What should you do if you encounter a wild animal on your property?

If you see an injured, sick, or orphaned wild animal, leave it alone. Visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website to decide if the animal you found is an orphan. If you decide the animal is orphaned or injured, call the Dane County Humane Society Wildlife Center at (60 838-0413, ext. Confront the cat and be aggressive, take two quick steps towards the cat or even attack the animal, which is the best way to make it run, says Mark Elbroch, director of the Puma program for Panthera, a global wildlife conservation group.

If a coyote bites a person, it will likely be necessary to remove them from their natural habitat and be tested for rabies, so you should immediately report any attacks to local authorities. According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, if he seems to have noticed you, you're too close and should slowly move away. The Wildlife Damage Reduction and Claims Program (WDACP) provides harm prevention assistance and partial compensation to farmers when deer, bears, geese, turkeys, elk and wild pumas damage agricultural crops, prey on livestock, or damage commercial apiaries (hives). Brightly colored clothing can also attract the attention of unwanted sharks, warns the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Call the animal control center if you see one lurking in your yard or neighborhood and stay inside until the coast is clear. It's important to leash pets and keep them away from water, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department advises people to keep pets inside a fenced area or inside the house for a few days after seeing an alligator, as reptiles have a very good sense of smell. Tell your local wildlife biologist about mute swans immediately and don't encourage them by feeding them. Many of these species are ambush predators, such as white sharks, so there's often not much you can do once an attack has occurred, but rather try to prevent it, says Luke Warwick, marine biologist and director of the shark and rays program at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Through this program, wildlife managers issue farmers with hunting permits so they can hunt deer (and sometimes bears, geese, and turkeys) that cause harm. Many wildlife species that thrive in urban and suburban areas are an important part of urban ecosystems, but they can become a nuisance when close to humans. While deer can provide pleasant opportunities to observe wildlife, the high number of deer in local areas can lead to conflict between humans and deer. Wisconsin has a program that helps agricultural producers when wildlife damages agricultural resources.

To catch nearby prey, alligators can run up to 35 miles per hour on land, according to the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, so speed is essential.

Amy Raoof
Amy Raoof

Proud travel aficionado. Evil tv buff. Typical reader. Certified coffee aficionado. Typical problem solver.

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