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 The decision came after discussions that took place at the
September 2nd and 9th meetings.
On September 2nd, Lincoln resident Don Bauer addressed the council
during the public participation session saying that in his
neighborhood there is a growing population of skunks. He wondered if
the city could help out with the trapping and relocation of the
animals.
He told the council he lives in the Gillette Street area, and that
there are a number of skunks running about, and at least one of his
neighbors has been sprayed. Bauer said he felt like the city could
help pay for the trapping, which is costly.
In the past, the reaction to wild animals running about the city has
been mixed from the city perspective. Marty Neitzel recalled that
there was a similar problem in the Mayfair, where she lives. The
neighbors had come to her as the alderman and asked for help. In the
end, however, the community worked together to get rid of the
animals.
Neitzel recalled that in that case, Maple Ridge had been willing to
help out with paying for a trapper as well as the community members.
They all pitched in together, and hired a certified trapper, who in
the end caught and relocated eight skunks.
Neitzel said the area in question now is in the vicinity of
Precision Products on Limit Street, and some other businesses. She
wondered if the community couldn’t bind together and seek some help
from those businesses and do away with the animals without the city
getting involved.
Jonie Tibbs, on the other hand, recalled in 2007 there was a problem
with groundhogs, and the city did take action then.
Jeff Hoinacki also remembered that the city did take action on the
beaver problem a few years ago.
In that case, the beavers were obstructing a waterway. The city
council authorized the city of Lincoln Police Department to use
deadly force to dispose of the animals that were building dams on
Brainard’s Branch.
Police Chief Ken Greenslate expanded on the story saying they began
by approaching the disposal of the beavers in that manner. However,
the department was not successful in being able to destroy the
animals and did in the end hire a trapper.
At the end of the discussion on the 2nd, Tom O’Donohue said this was
a discussion that should be continued in a workshop session. He said
either way, the city needed to establish a policy on what to do,
then stick to the policy.
When the topic came up last week at the workshop, Mayor Keith Snyder
shared that he had spent time during the week researching what other
cities do for varmint control; by and large the answer was they
don’t get involved.
Snyder said he had also gone searching on the internet, and found
some information on trapping and removal of wildlife from the
University of Illinois Extension.
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Among other things, he had found that trappers are to be
certified by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. In
Logan County, there are three trappers with the proper
certification. Those trappers are Booner’s Wildlife Control in
Elkhart, John Utterback in Mount Pulaski, and Wood Wildlife
Services in Lincoln.
The group continued to discuss what to do, and the consensus
seemed to be that the city couldn’t get involved in animal
control. The issues came up that the city had no one on the
payroll who could do the job, and hiring a certified trapper
would cost several dollars.
Michelle Bauer said she had heard from constituents that one
thing the city could do is provide more public information about
controlling the animals. She noted the city has a facebook page
as well as a website. She wondered if something could be posted
to offer tips on how to deter the animals, and provide the names
of those in the area who are licensed for trapping. Tibbs
offered up some tips from first-hand experience saying that motion
lights help because the animals come out at night, and they don’t
like the light. She also noted that keeping trash in closed
containers, as well as not leaving pet food outside overnight will
help. She noted the primary goal of the animals is to find food. If
the homeowner takes measures to assure the animals don’t find
anything, then the animals will move on to another place.
In the end, the council members agreed they should establish a
policy of not becoming involved in the trapping of wildlife.
For those who need such services, local trappers are:
Booner’s Wildlife Control
Larry Goerge Wilham
Elkhart
217-871-2268
John Utterback
Mount Pulaski
217-792-5658
Wood Wildlife Service
Les Wood
Lincoln
217-732-6080 Information from the University of Illinois regarding
wildlife pests:
Living with Wildlife in Illinois
How
to prevent problems with Wildlife
How to solve a problem with Wildlife at your home
[By NILA SMITH]
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