Wildlife Hazing : An Ethical Approach to Coexistence

A bobcat is one type of animal that many people prefer to view from a distance, not their backyards

Encounters with wildlife are increasing day by day as we continue to develop wild lands for use by humans. While many of these interactions prove harmless some can be dangerous for both humans and wildlife alike. Wildlife Hazing is a humane and ethical wildlife management technique used to mitigate those risks and ensure the safety and well being of those involved. When done correctly, Wildlife Hazing can lead to the peaceful coexistence of humans and wildlife.

Raccoons can be nuisance animals, and hazing works very well to keep them away

What is Wildlife Hazing?

Wildlife Hazing is defined by the Internet Center for Wildlife Management as “a process where you disturb the animal’s sense of security so much that it decides to move on.”. The primary goal of Hazing is to reinforce an animal’s natural caution of humans to prevent dangerous actions. The process of hazing is inherently non-violent, purely seeking to modify animal behavior without causing harm.

Foxes can prey on backyard chickens but hazing keeps flocks safe

Why is it Necessary?

When wildlife becomes accustomed to the presence of humans and loses their sense of caution they may act more boldly, potentially leading to property damage or safety concerns. Highly adaptive wildlife like raccoons, coyotes, or even bears may be drawn to areas human use by our trash which they may find to be an adequate food source. Hazing can help mitigate or even prevent instances of wildlife relating developed areas with food sources, thus reducing the likelihood of conflicts and the need for escalation to more inhumane techniques like euthanasia or relocation.

Deer can damage vegetable gardens and other crops, so hazing can even be applied to them!

Legal Considerations

When planning to enact Wildlife Hazing first consider the legality of Hazing for the particular wildlife in your area. Many species of animals like migratory birds are federally protected and would make hazing illegal. Before Hazing any wildlife be sure to always check local, state, and federal laws to ensure the legality of your plans.

A lot of people think possums are scary or gross, and we would rather encourage hazing them instead of harming them!

Ethical Considerations and Best Practices

While Hazing is an effective technique to mitigate and/or prevent wildlife conflict, it is important to utilize ethical and consistent practices to prevent habituation. Harmful tactics should never be incorporated in your hazing plan as hazing is intended to be humane and shouldn’t cause injury or undue stress. Removing attractants like exposed trash or pet food will help reduce potential food sources that could lead to the habituation of wildlife. Community support and cooperation can drastically improve the situation of large swathes of areas instead of concentrated points. If one person in a neighborhood of ten is hazing, the wildlife may simply move to another household, whereas a community of people hazing could eliminate the possibility of wildlife conflict. Maintaining consistency is paramount to success so Hazing should be done daily as long as needed to ensure results.  Consistency is key even within your community, so be sure to reach out to others.

Common Wildlife Hazing Techniques:

● Loud noises: Clapping, shouting, horns, automated speakers, etc. can encourage wildlife to leave the area.

● Visual deterrents: flashlights, motion activated lights, scarecrows and streamers can all deter local wildlife from a location.

● Physical presence: being outside, waving arms, looking large, and making eye contact are all techniques that can intimated wildlife into leaving.

● Water sprays :hoses, water guns, or motion activated sprinklers can all be effective devices to deter wildlife when used correctly with non-toxic safe materials.

● Guard animals: Pets like guard dogs trained to bark at disturbances can be effective ways to prevent wildlife from lingering in an area.

Foxes also like to dig dens around their food sources, so giving the parents time to move their young is essential

What to do if hazing proves unsuccessful?

If hazing proves unsuccessful and you suffer damages to yourself, your property, or have safety concerns please contact your state wildlife agency for advice and guidance. No further actions should be done without explicit guidance from your local, state or federal wildlife authority and should always be done in a legal manner.

Coyotes have the worst reputation, but with a little respect and some clever use of hazing techniques we can keep human-coyote conflicts at bay

Wildlife Hazing is an ethical and humane practice to mitigate or even prevent conflict between humans and wildlife By utilizing human deterrents we can reinforce wildlife's natural behaviors while causing no harm and reducing human-wildlife conflicts. Wildlife hazing, when done correctly, can prove to be an ethical and humane approach to encourage coexistence as we continue to develop wild areas.