Coming into close proximity with a wild animal in your neighborhood or on your property is a fairly common occurrence. From squirrels that scurry around to garden snakes that take up residence in your foliage, there’s a good chance that you’ve been feet from an animal hundreds of times before. While it’s generally safe to live side by side these animals, occasionally, they can become territorial or aggressive while in your presence.
How do you tell if an animal is threatened by you and when is the right time to call for wildlife control in Greenville, SC? While each animal’s territorial signs are different, there are a few common characteristics that will help you to realize the situation before it’s too late. Take a look at a few of the most common things to look out for if you find yourself face to face with a wild animal that’s not backing down:
Noises and audial triggers: Generally, animals are fairly quiet when left to their own devices. Occasionally, you may hear a squirrel squeak or a snake hiss, but this is generally not a sign of aggression. What is a sign, however, is the continued exhibition of these noises and the addition of sounds that are guttural or wild. If a snake starts to hiss deeply or worse, rattle its tail—get away immediately! If a raccoon starts to yip or growl, leave the area and if a skunk gives you a throaty growl, it’s best to give it space. Just like a person would warn you vocally that you’re making them uncomfortable, animals will do the same with noises.
Cornered look and feel: There’s nothing worse than cornering an animal—whether on purpose or accidently—because it will force an animal to defend itself or feel that it has to fight back. A cornered animal will usually back away from you as much as possible, showing that it wants to flee, however when it runs out of room to back up, it will usually bear down, showing teeth, fangs, claws and anything else that it feels will intimidate you. If you come into contact with an animal that shows these signs, be careful—you may be inadvertently backing it into a corner, with disastrous results to follow.
Disorientation: If you notice that an animal is acting “off” or appears to be behaving strangely, there’s a decent possibility that it’s sick or wounded, making it doubly threatening to anyone approaching it. Sick or wounded animals will already feel vulnerable without being cornered, causing them to show aggression more easily when confronted. If an animal is sick, it could also show signs of fearlessness, which would involve confronting you directly—a sign that they are mentally unsound.
If you notice any of these signs coming from a wild animal, it’s best to remove yourself from the situation as quickly and safely as possible. Once away from the animal, call wildlife control in Greenville, SC and have a professional approach and remove the animal in question—doing so will keep both you and the animal safe.