Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
If you share the landscape with cougars, bears, wolves, coyotes, dingoes,
and other large carnivores, you can reduce their interactions with your pets
and livestock with good animal husbandry. Dispose of garbage, compost, and
of al in such a way as to not attract predators, most of which are also scaven-
gers, to the places where you keep domestic animals. Bird feeders and pet
foods can also lure some predators into your yard, so be careful when and
where you provide feed. Your small pets will be safe inside at night, and you
can increase the safety of your larger animals by providing outside shelter.
Enclosing small pastures, barns, or cages with electric fencing is highly ef ec-
tive at deterring even the largest predators.
As we learn to live with potentially dangerous predators, we should also
take care to limit the dangers we pose to these thrilling creatures. One of the
easiest ways you can limit your ef ect on hawks, owls, and mammalian preda-
tors is to exercise restraint in the application of pesticides. The toxins we use
to control insects and rodents are deadly to small birds and mammals. To-
day's potent, second-generation anticoagulants, such as brodifacoum and
bromadiolone, that are available to homeowners for control of mice and rats
have killed owls and a wide range of wild and domestic mammals that either
ingest the substances directly or ingest sick rodents. Survivors may also be
more susceptible to disease, such as mange, and therefore increasingly likely
to be involved in dangerous encounters with people.
I've spent considerable time battling the rats that try to sneak into my
house and shed. I know their late-night scampering can easily lead one to the
rodenticide isle of the hardware store. But before you give in, make sure you
have found and sealed all the places where rodents can enter your home—
even the tiny ones through which you think a rat could never squeeze. Then,
try to solve your problem with snap traps. If you must use rodenticides, follow
the package directions carefully and completely, or call on a professional ex-
terminator. Regardless of how careful you are with toxins, some are certain to
 
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