By Tom Garlock
Pets and wildlife—we love them all—but what happens when they either have caused (or may cause) a problem? That’s when Animal Control, from either Wake County or the town you live in, may be able to step in and help.
Generally speaking, most issues with domesticated animals can be handled by responsible ownership—making certain that your dog is on a leash when away from your property, not permitting your furry family member to take care of its biological needs (the two “Ps”) anywhere but appropriate places (and not on the neighbor’s lawn), and importantly, not disturbing neighborhood tranquility with loud, non-stop barking. Most people might say that cats are easier, aside from the way they treat owners as staff! Most of the time, our feline friends are happy to stay inside, but when they are out and about, it’s important that owners keep an eye out that they don’t trouble our winged residents. One of the leading causes of declining bird populations is predation by cats. And then there are the wild animals that reside all around us.
Wake County Animal Control does not respond to wildlife calls unless the animal appears sick, injured or is a cause for concern for the transmission of rabies. If you observe a fox or raccoon walking very slowly, acting disoriented or lacking motor skills, then you should contact Animal Control. Most of the time, this is distemper, but this behavior could also be rabies. Small animals such as bats or squirrels inside your home living spaces require attention, and Animal Control should be contacted immediately. Bats will often cling to curtains or drapes and will not fly around if left undisturbed. Try to close off all other doors and contain the animal in one room. Animal Control will only respond to calls about bats within the home, not when they are found in the garage or attic.
For the removal of snakes or other wildlife that may be causing a problem, there are a number of private companies in the area that will assist with that for a fee. It’s wise to inquire about costs when you make the first call.
Should I intervene with young wildlife that appears to have been abandoned by its mother? The short answer is no. If you find a wild animal that you suspect needs help, the first and best thing you can do is leave it alone or put it back where it was found. Deer will often leave newborn fawns for hours at a time but normally come back for them. To find out more about orphaned wildlife, go to the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission website for guidance. There are also wildlife rescue/rehabilitators in the area that can be found at: https:// ncwrc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/
Holly Springs is among the fastest-growing communities in North Carolina. As more residents move in, an unprecedented building boom has removed large areas of wildlife habitat. When that occurs, populations of deer, coyote, fox and other species have been found wandering new and old neighborhoods searching for food and places to reside, particularly when females are giving birth. Snakes are another matter—they seem to appear everywhere! So, what does one do when the human and wild worlds meet in ways not advantageous to either? That’s when Holly Springs Animal Control, or private contractors, come into play.
To learn more about Holly Springs Animal Control operations, Suburban Living got in touch with Captain Jay Bruner, Holly Springs Police Field Operations Division Commander, and Animal Control Supervisor, Jimmy Cherry. “The administrative and supervisory functions of the animal control unit are housed completely within the organizational structure of our police department,” Captain Bruner explained. “We want to perpetuate a service model where citizens know our personnel and our personnel know our citizens.”
Holly Springs animal control officers do interact with the Wake County personnel on a frequent basis between trips to the county shelter and on certain major cases that require extended resources, such as cases involving large numbers of animals. Additionally, when Holly Springs animal control officers host reduced-fee rabies and microchipping events, Wake County officers sometimes elect to assist to ensure that the events are staffed to handle the flow of the crowds. Insofar as interaction with other towns and their animal control officers, in some cases, animal-related calls for service may transcend geographical jurisdictional borders and require that town officers partner with other jurisdictions to provide an efficient and complete flow of services over political boundaries.
The police department responds to noise complaints of barking dogs, to some after-hours bite reports, and in some cases, they will respond as check-in units alongside animal control officers where a criminal incident involving animals has occurred or where an incident could potentially require criminal investigation. “In the case of potential criminal incidents, such as cruelty, animal control officers will work closely with police officers to investigate and draw criminal charges when appropriate. This is another major advantage to the police department (and the Town) having their own animal control program,” Captain Bruner observed.
“From October 2020 to September 2021, Holly Springs Animal Control responded to 2,940 calls for service. The most common call that Animal Control responds to is animals at large,” according to Animal Control Supervisor Jimmy Cherry. The bulk of the complaints are in regard to cats running at large. In the Town of Holly Springs, domesticated animals are required to stay on an owner’s property. If they are off an owner’s property, they are required to be on a leash. Many people think of a leash law only pertaining to dogs, but cats fall into that category as well. If a cat does not stay on an owner’s property, it is considered to be ‘at large’ and is an ordinance violation.
As Supervisor Cherry explained, “As far as wildlife goes, we typically only deal with injured animals. Oftentimes we will transport to a 24-hour veterinary hospital or to a wildlife rehabilitator. The most common misconception about wildlife is that if you see a wild animal during daylight hours, it is rabid. For instance, mother raccoons can have their usual patterns disrupted during the spring and summer birthing season when nursing a litter of babies can force mother raccoons to forage for their own food during daylight hours. Signs of rabies can be staggering, unaware of surroundings, lethargy, foaming at the mouth and aggressiveness.” It is recommended that if any of these symptoms are observed, call Animal Control. In the instance that wildlife is damaging a homeowner’s property, the department typically advises the caller to contact a wildlife removal company to assist with the problem.
Captain Jay Bruner added, “The town administration and elected officials have consistently supported our animal control program as they wish to ensure that our citizens receive the most responsive and efficient service when calling for assistance with concerns about animals and their welfare.”
Holly Springs residents can be assured that there are effective resources to address the needs of our animal population.
