The objective of this procedure is to protect students, faculty, staff, and visitors on the campus from nuisance wildlife, and to minimize the killing of naturally occurring wildlife to the extent possible.
Authority
Responsibility for this policy is inherent in the role of the University Police Department to protect the public from harm.
Nuisance Wildlife: Wildlife that causes (or is about to cause) property damage, presents a threat to public safety, or causes an annoyance within, under or upon a building.
Relocation: Moving of wildlife from a location where it is a nuisance to another less public or otherwise more suitable habitat. This may be just a few yards or across the campus. Wildlife may not be relocated off the campus.
Responsibilities
Campus Community: members of the campus community must not feed or dispose of trash in a way that will attract wildlife.
University Police Department: The police dispatch center is the primary point of contact for nuisance wildlife incidents. The Police Department is responsible for contacting the appropriate personnel and participating in nuisance wildlife assessments, the creation and maintenance of reports of nuisance wildlife incidents and their outcome, and notifying the Physical Plant when necessary to have an animal trapped and removed.
Environmental Health and Safety: Responsible for the maintenance of this policy, participates as available in nuisance wildlife assessments, sponsors the wildlife response number, and may assist with wildlife relocation.
Facilities Planning: Construction project coordinator may participate in wildlife assessments, and will assist with wildlife relocation when appropriate.
Physical Plant Department: Arranges for nuisance wildlife removal as requested by the University Police Department.
College of Arts and Sciences: Faculty volunteers may participate in wildlife assessments, and assist with wildlife relocation as appropriate.
Responding to Nuisance Wildlife
In most instances, the naturally occurring wildlife on campus does not present a significant hazard to the University community, but it is important to avoid contact with wildlife that may provoke a defensive bite, scratch, or result in disease transmission.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973prohibits the killing or harming any fish or wildlife species designated as "endangered", "threatened" or of "special concern". This prohibition also extends to the intentional destruction of the nests of any such species.
Anyone threatened by or observing nuisance wildlife shall contact the University Police Department at 590-1900 to make a report. The University Police will log the call including a brief description of the incident. The Police will take any actions they deem necessary to protect the public safety. Reasonable efforts will be made to avoid trapping and killing wildlife on the campus, but protecting the University community from harm is the primary objective.
Options for responding to nuisance wildlife include:
1. Clearing crowds to create the space and confidence the wildlife needs to return to its natural habitat.
2. Barricade the site and redirect traffic around the wildlife until it returns to its natural habitat.
3. Capture the wildlife and relocate to suitable habitat on campus.
4. Trap the animal for removal from campus.
Environmental Health and Safety maintains a list (Appendix A) of volunteer responders for wildlife incidents.These volunteers are available to assist with wildlife relocation on the campus, and provide assessment of nuisance wildlife behavior and risk. A volunteer is also available to the University Police for afterhours assistance. The on-call volunteer is reached by calling 239.745.3289
Capture and Relocate
Capturing and relocating wildlife that is inside a building, or is blocking a pathway may be an option. Relocation should be to the appropriate habitat nearest to the point of capture, and must always be on the FGCU campus. The type of wildlife, size, location, and abilities of the person responding will all influence if capturing and relocating is an option.
Trap and Remove
When it is necessary to trap the nuisance wildlife for removal, or spray with insecticide in the case of insects, the University Police will contact the Physical Plant Department to have a trapper or pest control operator come in to perform that task.
Preventing Nuisance Wildlife
Wildlife feeding or living in close proximity to buildings and facilities brings them into conflict with the interests of people where the wildlife may become a nuisance. Accessible trash containers, edible wastes left on the ground, or food set out can attract wildlife looking for an easy meal. Openings in buildings may attract wildlife looking for shelter.
Most wildlife/human conflicts can be resolved by removing the attractant.Use trash containers that are wildlife proof for the type(s) of wildlife in the area. Seal openings in buildings to exclude wildlife. Never intentionally feed wildlife as it causes wildlife to lose their fear of people.
Specific Wildlife Issues
Alligator
The American Alligator is a “threatened” species. Control of alligators on the campus is in accordance with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission agreement for a Targeted Harvest Area.This agreement allows for the taking of alligators from campus at the discretion of the designated person(s) named in the agreement.
Alligators that have lost their fear of humans, or are otherwise deemed a risk to campus safety will be trapped for removal.
Black Bears
Black bears are on the campus from time to time. In the past, they have stayed primarily on the outer parts of the campus, and passed through over the course of a few days rather than staying.
Bees
During the dry season in the winter (January – March) many bees are often found around trash and recycling containers where soda remnants and other sweet liquids are available. Relocating containers from high traffic areas and using wildlife proof containers has reduced the problems in the past.
Swarming bees in a high traffic area that cannot be isolated, that remain in place for >24 hours, or where there is an expectation they will enter a building will be removed and destroyed by a pest control operator as recommended by the Florida Department of Agriculture.
Raccoon
Raccoon droppings may contain parasite eggs, which may present a human health hazard after 2-4 weeks. To prevent parasite disease, clean up raccoon droppings within this period, using appropriate hygiene and protective equipment.
Snakes
Use snake handling sticks or a broom to move or sweep a snake into a trashcan or other suitable container for removal to the outside. Trap snakes for relocation from inside buildings by placing glue boards in snake-traveled areas such as along walls. Nail glue boards to a larger board so the whole assembly can be handled at a safe distance from a stuck snake. Once outside, pouring cooking oil on the glue board will allow the snake to free itself.
