Residents often call city officials when confronted with wild animals, such as skunks, opossums and other wildlife that occupy the area, according to the City of Signal Hill.
Per the City, unless wildlife are posing some sort of threat to the safety or well-being of pets or humans, those animals have the right to habituate in their natural surroundings. This means that unless there is a danger in and around private property, animal control cannot remove wild animals.
The solution is to then maintain proper home and yard maintenance so that wildlife will not be attracted to those areas, according to the City.
Wildlife are always looking for the three life-sustaining elements of food, water and shelter.
Animals usually feed off of food that has been left out for pets, fruits and vegetables that have fallen from trees or vines and garbage that wild animals dig out of trash receptacles.
Water can come from pet water dishes and uncovered ponds or pools.
As for shelter, wildlife often take cover under decks, under houses and in overgrown shrubbery or plants.
The City suggests that if residents take care in removing these attractants, then they are much less likely to have problems with wildlife in their homes and yards.
If a resident does encounter a wild animal that appears aggressive, injured, ill or dead, that individual should call animal control immediately at (562) 570-PETS.
