Other Wildlife Animals

030310 Fox in Yard

FoxES

Many years ago, the wealthy hunted foxes for sport in Coral Gables. Today, we have a healthy population throughout Miami Dade. Are they dangerous? Well, put it this way, you’d have a tough time corning one for it to get scared enough to attack you. They are very skittish and nocturnal. That being said, if you see one in the day time, it is advisable to stay clear of it or it’s babies (called “kits”). 

Usually when we get a call to remove foxes, it’s because they’ve made their home under someones shed or wooden deck. When living on your property they will eat your wild birds, use your pool and dig up lawn areas in search for grubs and lizards. They will kill and eat kittens but usually leave adult cats alone. If a cat does decide to get near a foxes young kits, it will be met with an attack, an attack that usually leaves the cat injured or killed. Remember, just because they are beautiful creatures doesn’t mean that they aren’t wild. We actually believe that the population of foxes in south Miami Florida is on the rise as the number of calls we’ve been getting has more than tripled in the past 15 years. If the foxes bother you, just give us a call and we’ll remove them for you and relocate them.

Egyptian Geese

In recent years, we’ve seen an influx of the Egyptian Geese, they’re usually found wherever the muscovy ducks are found, usually on golf courses or in public parks. The problem with the non native geese is that they tend to get very territorial and become downright mean. This usually isn’t a problem with adult people but think about a child in a park that is use to “playing” with muscovy ducks that simply walk away from the children. Egyptian Geese have been known to peck at the children faces and that can lead to injuries. The same rules that apply to the Muscovy ducks, apply to the Egyptian Geese. Due to their temperament, they should be avoided. They are especially protective while in mating season or while sitting on their nests.

Unlike the muscovy, they usually nest in low lying trees whereas the muscovy nests on the ground, usually in fairly thick bushes. Because they are so aggressive and loud, most of the geese we capture are euthanized. But we always try to find a location that will assure us that they will not be re-released back into the wild.

egyptiangeese
peacock

PEACOCKS

Depending on your perspective, Miami has been blessed with having arguably the prettiest bird in the word roaming free. These birds are native to India but have flourished here in south Florida. Now most people can deal with the peacocks and their very loud shrills but the problem comes when they get ready to mate, the males tend to get aggressive and when seeing their reflection in a shiny new car, will peck at it, thus causing damage to the vehicle which can be costly. Others will roost on peoples cars scratching the paint and leaving their waste all over the property. 

Unlike the muscovy ducks, peacocks can run like the wind and are much harder to catch; don’t believe us, go out and try and touch one of their tail feathers! It takes some pretty ingenious methods to be successful with capturing them. They are subject to the same rules as the muscovy ducks… no relocating. Which means they must be taken to a farm where they are to never be released to roam freely or they must be euthanized. Luckily we have good sources that will receive them, because they are so beautiful, to avoid euthanasia. But we have to let you know there is still a chance for it.

SNAKE SERVICES

It is no secret that Miami Florida is home to snakes… lots of them but you’ll be glad to know that the vast majority of snakes that we have encountered over the past 25 years they have been non venomous which means that even if they bite you, they don’t excrete any venom. That being said, we tell everyone that calls us with some type of snake problem to consider the snake in question as venomous (notice I don’t use the term “poisonous” because no snake is poisonous, only potentially venomous). The dangerous snakes that we have to contend with down here (that are native) are the cottonmouth, the diamond back rattle snake, the pygmy rattlesnake and the coral snake. Fortunately for us, these breeds are VERY rare and 99% of the snakes that we encounter here at Humane Animal Removal are harmless to humans.

With the invention of smart phones, we always tell people to take a bunch of pictures of the snake from different angles, especially of the head so that we can properly ID the snake. Unfortunately for us, if people describe the snake over the phone, it’s always exaggerated in size and length and one person would describe it as black with diamonds on it’s back while another describes it as dark brown with oblong marks on it’s back so it makes it hard for us to give safe advice over the phone. If you’re ever unsure and even if you’re neighbor thinks he knows what it is, call us, we’re here to help. Don’t kill it just because it’s a snake. Most eat rats, roaches and lizards and are completely harmless. Remember, they were here first. If we remove the snake it will be safely released far away that is only if it is native. All exotic snakes, if we cannot donate it to a licensed group to handle an exotic snake, it will have to be euthanized.

Grass Snake close-up

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