Raccoons, groundhogs, and skunks are part of wild, wonderful Pennsylvania.
HAP is working on a campaign to educate residents of Allegheny County and beyond on humane harassment techniques that serve as an alternative to trapping.
Humane Wildlife Conflict Solutions
The City of Pittsburgh has one of the most inhumane and ineffective trapping programs for a city of our size in the country. Outside the city, most wildlife management companies are not any better. Not only does trapping not solve the problem residents are facing with wildlife, but by state law, rabies-vector species (raccoons, groundhogs, skunks) MUST be killed. So, let’s show some love to our wild neighbors; try these humane tactics to resolve wildlife conflicts instead of trapping and killing.
Thank you to Fund for Wild Nature for their generous grant in support of this campaign
Raccoons
Believe it or not, most conflicts with raccoons are the fault of humans. While it may not be...
Groundhogs/Woodchucks
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Skunks
Seeing skunks in your neighborhood is nothing unusual or dangerous. Skunks will not intentionally...
Finding a Wildlife Professional
Hopefully, if you have a wildlife conflict, you’ll be able to resolve it yourself with the tips on...
Injured Wildlife
If you find wildlife that appears injured or distressed, please first make sure they are indeed in...
Injured or Orphaned?
How do you tell if wildlife is injured or orphaned? It's common to see baby wild animals outside...
Bats
While bats rarely cause problems for humans, they may accidentally come into contact with...
Beavers
Some people think that trapping is the solution for problems associated with beavers, such as...
Bees and Wasps
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Black Bears
It might not seem likely to encounter a bear in and around the city, but it’s certainly been known...
Canada Geese
Canada geese are harmless birds, but killing has become a common (and short-term only) solution in...
Chimney Swifts
Most of the time, wildlife conflicts with chimney swifts are not the birds causing issues for us,...
Chipmunks
Chipmunks might be one of the cutest wild animals we see in our neighborhoods. They’re not any...
Coyotes
When it comes down to it, hazing and securing food sources are more effective at solving coyote...
Crows
Crows are very social and intelligent animals. The groups of crows in your backyard are extended...
Deer
One of the most beautiful creatures in the Western Pennsylvania area is certainly the deer. That...
Foxes
Foxes tend to do what they can to avoid people. However, with humans encroaching on their...
House Sparrows
Did you know that house sparrows (the little brown birds we see all the time on city streets) are...
Mice
We think mice get a bad rap – after all, they just want a warm and cozy spot to live with good...
Opossums
Opossums are one of the cutest animals (who can resist those little pouches), and they are usually...
Pigeons
Pigeons are a staple of city living. However, many property owners do not want pigeons inside or...
Rabbits
Could there be an animal cuter than a rabbit? That being said, you may not want them eating your...
Rats
Rats get a bad rap, but did you know that studies have shown rats to be compassionate and help...
Snakes
Many people are deeply afraid of snakes, causing them to often be villainized. While snakes can...
Squirrels
Squirrels can create a number of problems for homeowners, but there are humane solutions for any...
Starlings
Starlings are found in cities, suburbs, and farms alike. They nest in cavities (often...
Wild Turkeys
The vast majority of the time when wild turkeys wander somewhere unwanted, it’s simply because...
Thank you to the Humane Society of the United States , Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh and Apple Pest Control for sharing many of the resources provided on these pages.
Please note, Humane Action Pittsburgh (HAP) is not a wildlife rescue and is unable to address concerns or assist with wildlife emergencies. Please utilize the resources on our website to find the appropriate organization to contact. Submissions to HAP through our contact form or email will not be able to be addressed.