Animal Control Resources

Animal Proofing

Once animals have been “harassed” out of their burrow on your property, your property should be “wildlife proofed.” If you haven’t harassed the animal out of its burrow, read below on "Harassment Techniques" to learn more. 

Click here to download a guide and learn more about wildlife proofing your property. This will prevent wildlife from burrowing on your property. 

Bats  

Animal Control responds to reports of bats spotted and/or trapped in buildings. Encounters with bats should be immediately reported to Animal Control at 847-982-5900 since bats are known to carry rabies. In some instances, humans may not be aware that they have been bitten by a bat due to bats’ small teeth. If you encounter a bat in your residence or a common area, such as a lobby or stairwell, isolate the bat by closing the doors and windows and contact Animal Control. Keep the bat within your view until Animal Control arrives. Also, find out if anyone has been bitten by the bat. 

 Please click here for more information on bats.  

Wasps/Hornets

Animal Control advises residents to call a private removal service for nests located on private property. 

For nests located on public right of way, Animal Control will respond to the area to make an assessment. Nests located on public right of way that are less than eight feet above the ground or pose an unusual risk will be sprayed and removed by Animal Control. Click here to report a nest located on public property. 

Deceased Wildlife

Animal Control encourages residents to pick up deceased wildlife on their private property using the following safe steps: 

  1. Wear a pair of gloves
  2. Using a shovel, scoop the animal into a small plastic bag
  3. Tie the bag closed
  4. Place the bag into your Village of Skokie garbage can
  5. Rinse off the shovel and dispose of gloves

 For additional guidance or instruction, submit a request to Animal Control at https://www.skokie.org/637/Access-Skokie. 

 Harassment Techniques

The most effective way to remove nuisance wildlife (skunks, opossums, etc.) is to “harass” the animal out of its burrow by completing the following three steps simultaneously:  

  1. Place a spotlight at the entrance of the burrow. Shine the spotlight into the burrow 24 hours per day for 7 days. This will create a bright and uncomfortable environment for the animal. 
  2. Soak a rag in plain/regular cleaning ammonia. (Do not use cleaning ammonia that is scented or contains bleach). Using a long stick or broom, push the ammonia-soaked rag all the way into the burrow. A new ammonia-soaked rag should be added to the burrow once a day for 7 days. 
  3. Place a radio at the entrance of the burrow. Set the radio to an AM talk station. Place the radio in a bag to protect it from rain. Play the radio for 24 hours per day for 7 days.

Following the steps listed above will create a bright, smelly, noisy, and uncomfortable living environment for an animal burrowing on your property. The animal will vacate and you can begin “animal proofing” your property. Click here to download a guide on how to animal-proof your property. 

Animal Deterrents 

There are various ways to deter wildlife from visiting or living on your property. Animal repellents deter groundhogs, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and much more. Residents are encouraged to use animal repellents which come in spray and pellet forms and may be purchased at a hardware store. It’s important that animal repellents are applied on a frequent basis and re-applied after a rainfall. 

For residents experiencing issues with rodents (ground squirrels, chipmunks, etc.) but prefer an alternate method, the following instructions can be followed to create a natural rodent repellent at home: 

The following ingredients will be needed: 

  • 1 Teaspoon of oil of peppermint
  • 1 Teaspoon of chili powder
  • ½ Ounce of Tabasco Sauce 
  • 1 Pint of cold tap water
  • Cotton balls

Place all the ingredients into a medium bowl and mix well. Place approximately 10 drops of the solution on a cotton ball. Place the cotton ball anywhere a rodent problem exists or drop the cotton ball down a rodent burrow. 

Baby Wildlife

Residents frequently encounter baby wildlife such as baby rabbits and baby birds. Oftentimes, these baby animals do not need to be relocated or cared for as their parents are still caring for them. The most common cases are when a baby bird, also known as a “fledgling,” is found on the ground near its nest. The mother will still care for the baby until it is able to fly away on its own. 

More information regarding various types of baby wildlife is available at https://www.dupageforest.org/willowbrook-wildlife-center/wildlife-rescue and https://flintcreekwildlife.org/.