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Wildlife Information

It is not uncommon for residents of Orange County to encounter wildlife. Orange County is home to a diverse wildlife population which inhabit both our urban and open spaces. Many residents experience occasional visits from wildlife, such as opossums, squirrels, bats, raccoons, skunks, snakes, and coyotes. Those closer to open spaces or open water sources may encounter bobcats, foxes and mountain lions. During springtime, wildlife encounters are more frequent due to mating season.   

OC Animal Care is not a wildlife rescue or rehab facility. In most situations, allowing a wild animal to remain in its natural habitat is the best approach, provided it can access shelter, food, and water independently.  

How to know if a wild animal needs your help? 

  1. The animal is brought to you by a cat or dog

  2. There is evidence of bleeding 

  3. The animal has an obvious or apparent broken limb 

  4. A bird is featherless or nearly featherless, and on the ground 

  5. The animal is shivering  

  6. There’s a dead animal parent nearby 

  7. The animal is crying and wandering all day  

 

I Found Injured Wildlife
Report an Animal Bite

Deter Wildlife from Visiting Your Property

  • Cats and small dogs can be easy prey for predators and should be supervised as closely as possible when outside or kept indoors.  

  • Keep pet food indoors and do not leave food of any kind outside at night. Food left out at night will be taken as a welcome invitation by wildlife and may prompt future visits.  

  • Remove any fruit which has fallen to the ground from trees/bushes.  

  • Store trash in covered, heavy-duty containers.  

  • Keep yards free from potential shelter such as thick brush and weeds and enclose the bottoms of porches and decks.  

  • Eliminate buildup of garbage, debris, lumber piles, etc.  

  • Check fencing: use smaller gauge wire to block entry between or under fences and try to eliminate access points to rooftops.  

  • Change automatic sprinkler settings regularly.  

  • Use motion-activated outdoor lighting to deter wildlife visits in the evening.  

Trapping and relocating wildlife are illegal without a permit in most cases and does not solve the problem of wildlife who encroach on your property.  Removing animals creates a void in that area inviting others to move in.  Wild animals who are caught in a trap must be released at or in the same vicinity to, the location from which they originated.  

For more information on the laws pertaining to urban wildlife and their protections, please visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

Wildlife Resources