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SHAWN DE TURK/READERS PHOTO SHOWCASE 2018 you can put them under nearby bushes. The parents
will continue to care for the young.
But by touching some young mammals, you may be
serving their death warrant. The stress from human
handling can quickly become irreversible, even if the
animal is released, and could easily lead to an other-
wise healthy animal’s death.
Encounters with clearly injured wildlife can be
reported to a certified wildlife rehabilitator, listed at
www.wildlifedepartment.com/law/rehabilitator-list.
ODWC offices are not equipped to accept
injured wildlife.

Q: A pair of Canada geese have a nest by my
house and are aggressive; what can I do?
A: Canada geese are migratory birds regulated
by the federal government under the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act. The best option is to give geese their
space during nesting season from late February to
early May. Geese may appear aggressive as they
are trying to defend their offspring. Never feed
geese; doing so could lead them to gather in large
numbers and potentially become a nuisance.
Landowners, homeowners associations, land
It may be tempting to return partially feathered managers, and local governments may sign up for the Canada goose depredation
fledglings to the nest. But most of the time,
young wildlife are best left alone. order permit through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at https://epermits.fws.gov/
eRCGR. This permit allows the groups listed to remove goose eggs and nests from
their respective properties. Control activities under this permit must be reported
to USFWS through their portal. Landowners looking to take a more hands-off
approach should contact a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator. These are private
businesses authorized to deal with these situations. A list of NWCOs is found at
www.wildlifedepartment.com/law/nwco-operators.

Q: What can I do to control the feral swine tearing up my crops?
A: Outside of deer gun seasons, a landowner, agricultural lessee, or a desig-
nated agent with written permission from the landowner or agricultural lessee,
may control nuisance or damage by feral swine without a permit at day or night
to protect agricultural materials, when they have a current agricultural exemption
permit issued by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
Also, the Wildlife Services program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
is authorized in federal and state law to take necessary action in assisting any
landowner in management and control of rodents, nongame birds, feral pigeons,
and furbearers on their property. The most requested Wildlife Services activities
are reducing feral swine damage to crops, animal health, and natural resources;

NASA/USFWS

Addressing feral swine damage is handled by the Wildlife Services division of APHIS/USDA.

24 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA