Skunks are normally very calm and gentle creatures. They are generally not aggressive if you give them space. They can help control pests like slugs, snails, and cockroaches in the yard. Skunks are mostly active at night and are naturally fearful of humans, so they will avoid interacting with us. However, skunks can release a powerful and unpleasant-smelling scent when they are threatened or startled. If you know there is a skunk visiting your yard, make sure it knows you or your pets are present by turning on lights and making noise before entering dark corners of the yard. Skunks are known to carry the rabies virus, so never touch a skunk.   
 
Skunks will frequently visit yards that have food, water, or cover available to them. To encourage them to leave, remove their access to food and water (pet water/food bowls, ponds, fallen fruit, compost piles, etc.), and cover (ex. old wood piles, gaps under decks and sheds, etc.). Skunks prefer to tunnel under barriers rather than climb. Repair or fill holes under fences with wire mesh to keep them out. Store bought scent deterrents can be effective, but are often short lived. Try a motion-activated sprinkler along fence lines. 

No, trapping and relocating wildlife is a violation of State law, as the animal may spread disease and become a nuisance elsewhere. Most raccoons on properties are searching for food. To discourage raccoons on your property:

• Do not feed them.
• Raccoon-proof your garbage cans by fastening the lids securely with rope, bungee cords, chains, or a heavy object.
• Remove places for them to shelter in by closing off openings under the house, decks and sheds. Cover or otherwise enclose woodpiles.
• Use key activated pet doors to prevent raccoons from entering.
• Sprinkle lawns or planters with cayenne pepper to discourage grub hunting. Control grub populations so that raccoons or skunks will not be drawn to your lawn in the first place. Organic grub control products work very well.

More information on living with urban wildlife

Sick or injured wildlife should be approached with caution. Animals that are sick or injured are particularly defensive and likely to bite if handled. Bites from wildlife are painful and may transmit harmful diseases. Depending on the species of animal, the following contacts should be able to lend assistance:

• Skunks and foxes - Yolo County Animal Services
• Bats -NorCal Bat Rescue
• Hawks, owls, or other birds-of-prey - California Raptor Center
• Everything else - Wildlife Care Association

Is it abandoned? Often times an "orphaned" animal is safe but perhaps a bit out of place.

Was the animal brought to you by a pet? Is it naked and shaking? If yes, it likely needs help.   

When birds are nesting, we may see more young birds out of the nest as they learn to fly and feed on their own. Often times, we see these young birds on the ground or in a low bush. Does the bird need help? Not necessarily! Most young birds are perfectly fine and do not need our help. Here is some useful information on what to do when you find a young bird.

Featherless/Newly Hatched (Hatchling) Birds (Picture A): If the bird is not injured, locate the nest, and place the young bird back inside. Birds are unable to detect your scent on their young. After you leave, they will quickly forget your intrusion. Be sure to place the bird in the correct nest (as parents may toss out unfamiliar babies).

Downy/Incompletely Feathered (Nestling) Birds (Picture B): These are older birds, not quite ready to fly. Find the nest, and place the young back in it unless the bird is injured.

Fully Feathered (Fledgling) Birds (Picture C): These birds are completely feathered, can hop about, and may be able to flutter or fly short distances. Leave them alone unless they are being attacked by a dog or cat. They should be left on the ground (to be fed and protected by their parents) unless they are injured or in imminent danger.

Unfortunately, cats (even well-fed pet cats) are super effective predators. Free-roaming pet cats can’t help but capture and kill various wildlife like birds, lizards, and small mammals. In addition to their impacts on wildlife, free-roaming cats are also at greater risk of being injured or killed, either by accident or by other wildlife predators. For the safety of your cat and for wildlife in our community, it's the best practice to keep pet cats indoors.

No, you should not feed wildlife. It may not seem like a big deal, but feeding wildlife can make them sick, alter normal (and appropriate) behavior patterns, and potentially worst of all, can make wild animals less fearful of humans, which is dangerous for all of us. 

You may not be aware, but feeding wild animals actually harms them. “People” food isn’t good for animals, and generally “pet” food does not provide the right balance of nutrients for most wild animals. They need their natural diet in order to remain healthy. The animals you feed today are also likely become “pests” tomorrow, when they lose their natural fear of humans and approach other people to look for food. Once animals learn that humans are a source of food, they can become a nuisance, or even worse, a safety risk. 

It’s also important to keep in mind that many wild animals found in urban areas tend to have a population growth that is largely tied to their access to food, water and shelter. When they have an abundance of these elements, their population can expand rapidly. Unfortunately, the reverse is true as well. If the food is removed (when people stop feeding the animals, move away, or when the feeder runs out) the animals will begin to starve and the population crashes. This cycle can be avoided if we allow these wild animals to rely solely on what nature provides.

It can be hard to resist feeding wildlife, but please don’t do it, first and foremost for the animal’s health and safety.

More information on the problems with feeding urban wildlife.