Wildlife Problems

Wildlife Problems

Loudoun County Animal Care and Control provides general information and exclusionary methods to assist with wildlife problems. The animal shelter does not house or routinely care for wildlife. The Wildlife Rescue League of Northern Virginia operates a hotline that can be reached by calling 703-440-0800 or accessing www.wildliferescueleague.org.

Loudoun County Animal Control Officers will respond to the following wildlife emergencies:

Wildlife in the living area of a residence or occupied area of a business that poses a threat to humans or domestic animals

Wildlife that have had physical contact with a human or domestic animal, thereby potentially exposing the person or domestic animal to rabies.

Wildlife that are displaying signs and symptoms of rabies and that pose a threat to humans or domestic animals.

Wildlife that pose a threat to humans or domestic animals.

Wildlife that are sick or injured and pose a threat to humans or domestic animals.

Loudoun County Animal Control Officers do not respond to situations where the complainant considers wildlife a "nuisance" and where no real threat to humans or domestic animals exist. These include the following:

Wild animals living under decks, storage sheds, porches and the like (Typically groundhogs, skunks, raccoons or opossums)
Wild animals inhabiting or frequenting populated areas (Typically squirrels, deer, foxes, opossums or skunks)
Wild animals in attics, basements, garages and storage sheds (Typically squirrels, raccoons, bats or snakes)
Damage to gardens, flower beds, ornamental shrubs (Typically squirrels, deer, groundhogs, raccoons)

Orphaned Wildlife

Do not touch or handle baby or young wildlife. The animals mother is usually nearby feeding or caring for other young. If you believe the animal has been abandoned, its mother killed or injured, contact a wildlife rehabilitator through the Rescue League. Do not endanger yourself by "helping" an animal that may not need help. Rabies vector species such as foxes, skunks, raccoons should never be touched by persons who have not been trained in their care and who are not protected by rabies pre-exposure vaccines. If an unprotected person handles these animals, the animals would probably have to be euthanized and tested for rabies.