Living Harmoniously with Wildlife

Greetings from Kirkfield, a small town nestled in the heart of Kawartha Lakes. My name is William McIntosh and I am excited and pleased to introduce myself to the readers of North Simcoe Life. I am a Wildlife and Pest Control Specialist. 

The purpose of this column is to provide information that proves not only informative, but also useful in managing to live harmoniously with wildlife…without the wildlife moving in and living with you! In our day-to-day lives, we enjoy seeing wildlife in their natural habitat, often taking for granted that we exist in our space, within their space. A deer happily munching grass on your lawn, a hummingbird gathering nectar from flowers in your garden, or possibly a family of foxes out for an evening stroll in a field are all lovely and heart-warming examples of the joy we can experience having wildlife surround us.

However, no matter how beautiful, cute and intriguing wildlife may be, they can just as surely bring harm, damages and headaches to your structures, property and even quality of life or your health. How can we coexist with wildlife harmoniously, safely and humanely for humans and animals alike? How can we protect our homes, lives, and investments while preserving the beauty and wildness of the creatures we share our living spaces with?

Below I’ve listed some commonly asked questions we get about our industry and what we do to help the people of our communities find this balance while preserving the health, happiness and safety of humans and animals alike.

 Q: What is it that you do?

We protect from and/or extract unwelcome pests or intruders from properties and structures, including cottages, garages, homes, sheds, decks, porches and boathouses. We decipher what kind of animal or animals are causing you frustration and then form a plan to dispel the problem while protecting the structure to make sure it won’t happen again. With our tinier pests, we may enact an Integrated Pest Management Program (IPMP) as the smaller critters and pests may need to be managed as prevention is difficult, if not impossible.

Q: What kind of creatures do you run into?

All shapes and sizes! On the animal side we handle raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, weasels, snakes, groundhogs, porcupines, starlings, bats, mice, and rats. On the pest side of things, we target ants, spiders, flies, mosquitoes, ticks, wasps/hornets, earwigs, and many others!

Q: Why do you do this for a living?

Ever since I was little, I have been obsessed with animals, from watching animal documentaries, reading countless books on animal behaviour and attempting, unsuccessfully (sorry mom!), a bug collection. As I got older, I wanted to work with animals. Being raised on a small farm helped instil a strong dedication to nurturing animals as we raised multiple animals from birth on. Wild animals always caught my attention even more. Each species having their own quirks, separate individual personalities, then the thought to work with their unpredictable instincts was exciting to me! Having to understand each animal, reading their body language, gauging temperament and maternal instincts just made sense to me. In other words, I love what I do! That’s why I do this for a living!

Q: What is your favourite animal to work with?

Raccoons – Their incredible abilities, tied into their impressive problem-solving skills, leads to some very interesting and sometimes comical scenarios. You wouldn’t consider a raccoon opening your fridge for some chicken wings at 2 in the morning a possibility, but it is and it does happen. Keep your screen doors locked on a hot summer night, folks!

Q: What is the most difficult animal you encounter?

Snakes – Their ability to slither almost anywhere, including up or down stairs, steps or any roughly clad wall, make them exceptionally hard to control.  Seeing as how they are one of the more feared creatures that we handle, that makes it all the more difficult as it’s imperative to figure out the issue to help folks.

Q: What can I do to ensure my dwelling is protected from invasion or breaking in of unwanted guests?

Have someone with a trained eye give your home or cottage a rigorous inspection. Some people will suggest to just close up the gaps in your house, but this can lead to serious consequences, if not handled properly. Many a time I’ve arrived on scene to a distressed homeowner who attempted to close a gap or hole, and not realizing, has trapped an unknown intruder inside. This leads to further damage as the animal will make great and desperate attempts to escape. Other areas that may have an issue could be potentially overlooked so having someone who recognizes the signs and knows the proper solution will alleviate much anxiety in such situations. Always remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours!