Skip to main content

Your wild neighbors

Humane World for Animals works with community leaders and animal care and control agencies to create Wild Neighbors communities, where humane and non-lethal solutions are given priority when addressing conflicts between people and wildlife. Learn more about the innovative and effective approaches you can take to solve any wild animal problems you encounter in your home, yard or garden. 

three bats hanging upside down

CraigRJD/iStock.com

Bats

Whether you want to get bats out of your house, scare them away, protect their habitats, or have questions about bats and diseases, we can help.

mother black bear and young cub in North Carolina forest

Anton Sorokin/Alamy Stock Photo

Black bears

Bird feeders, unsecured pet food, garbage, compost, containers for recycling, and grills may be bringing them to your back door.

Beaver in the water

blickwinkel/Alamy Stock Photo

Beavers

What to do about beavers and how to safely keep them away.

Photo by Elroy Limmer

Californians feel strongly about protecting bobcats: nearly 70% are opposed to trophy hunting these beautiful native carnivores.
Bobcats

Conflicts with these elusive, wild felines are rare and preventable. Learn how to protect your pets and humanely keep them from coming into your yard.

Chimney swift bird flying through the sky

Matthew Jolley/iStock.com

Chimney swifts

Safely get and keep birds like swifts out of chimneys.

Chipmunk outside, on bird feeder

Goddard_Photography/iStock.com

Many factors play into wildlife population numbers, including the availability—or scarcity—of food.
Chipmunks

Safely get rid of chipmunks from your house and keep them away.

mountain lion in the wild

Phil Gould/Alamy Stock Photo

Cougars

Taking simple precautions in cougar country can easily prevent dangerous conflicts, protect our pets, and help us live in harmony with majestic mountain lions.

Nathan Hobbs/iStock.com
Coyotes

How to humanely haze coyotes and keep them away from backyards and homesteads.

American crow sitting on a branch

mirceax/iStock.com

Crows

Crows can get in the trash and compost. These smart black birds are now common residents of cities and towns, but relocation is more effective and humane than poison.

Deer in winter

Robert Caplin/For the HSUS

Deer

Conflicts with deer are best solved by addressing their root causes. Here are steps that can be taken to humanely and effectively control deer populations where necessary.

Mother fox nursing several kits

Thomas D. Mangelsen

Foxes

Although foxes can be dangerous for small pets left outdoors, they're usually no cause for alarm. Here's what to do if you see one.

Family of canada geese

Rena-Marie/iStock.com

Geese

Killing geese is inhumane, ineffective and unnecessary. Learn better ways to keep flocks off your property or facility.

Baby woodchuck peeking out of den

kalimf/iStock.com

Groundhogs (Woodchucks)

Groundhogs are shy, timid creatures that may dine on garden vegetables or flowers. Fencing and humane harassment are the best ways to solve conflicts with woodchucks.

CreativeNature_nl/iStock.com stock
Mice

Many people keep mice as pets, but some wild visitors can be unwanted so learn how to deter mice and prevent their coming back with these humane tips.

Opossums are safe, nonthreatening creatures who are easy to get rid of gently

mtruchon/iStock.com

Opossum

Opossums are gentle neighbors, rarely dangerous, and often not even responsible for messes they get blamed for. Here's what to do if you have one in a crawlspace.

 

Pigeon on a metal fence

Jan Gottwald/iStock.com

Pigeons

When pigeon flocks grow too large and their poop becomes too much of a nuisance, use these humane methods to control their numbers.

Prairie dog in a field

Noelle Guernsey/The HSUS

Prairie dogs

As keystone members of the ecosystem, prairie dogs deserve protection and coexistence.

wild rabbits

Maurizio Bonora/iStock.com

Rabbits

Rabbits may eat our plants or crops in the garden, yet they are critical members of our ecosystem. Make sure they are the culprit and learn what you can do without hurting them.

Two raccoons on a sidewalk

lavin photography/iStock.com

Raccoons

Wondering what to do about raccoons? Conflicts with these intelligent animals can be prevented and resolved humanely.

The best way to get rid of rats is by making your home less attractive to them

Ed Maynard/iStock.com

Rats

Clever, curious rats can carry pathogens—but that doesn’t mean they deserve cruelty. Here’s how to get rid of rats in your home, yard or chicken coop.

Skunks digging

Christine Jensen/The HSUS

Skunks

Learn how to safely get rid of skunks and keep away from pets when they enter your yard or garage.

snake

Kativ/iStock.com

Snakes

Most snakes are not a threat to either people or pets, so identify the troublemakers to learn what to do if you find any in your yard or home and need to humanely remove them.

Sparrow on a fence post

Kathy Milani/The HSUS

Sparrows

Of all sparrows, the non-native house sparrow is most often in conflict with humans because the birds are so good at adapting to our buildings and nesting in crevices.

Squirrel eating from a bird feeder

Kathy Milani/The HSUS

Squirrels

Squirrels are smart and athletic, which might make them an annoyance. Here’s how to handle squirrel conflicts with kindness when they get in your house.

There are many solutions for humanely removing starlings, a bird that is invasive in the US

Hans Veth/Unsplash

Starlings

Starlings are cavity-nesting birds and will use attics, vents, and ducts in homes to build nests for their eggs and to raise their young.

Portrait of a wild turkey

Jason Doiy/iStock.com

Turkeys

Too many turkeys in your yard or garden? Find easy, effective and humane ways to move them along off your property.

Meredith Lee/Humane World for Animals

Create a haven for wildlife

A humane backyard is a natural habitat offering wildlife plenty of food, water and cover, plus a safe place to live free from pesticides, chemicals, free-roaming pets, inhumane practices and other threats. And it's so easy to build!

Your gift can do so much for animals in need.

Start saving lives by making a one-time gift today. Or help animals all year long with a monthly contribution.

Jean Chung/For Humane World for Animals