QUESTION
Wild animal capturing
11/18/2018
Do any security department personnel capture or detain racoons?
As background, about 6 weeks ago a racoon was sitting in my driveway mid afternoon.. Landings Security arrived promptly and called Chatham County (CC)animal control. The officer, a Supervisor, arrived in a reasonable time frame, but without a net. His attempt to get the racoon with another device was unsuccessful. He called in backup and within a reasonable time another officer arrived. He had a net and after a successful capture the racoon got out of the net through a hole. Another 45 minutes was spent trying to flush the animal out of shrubbery in the area before both finally secured the animal.They both said it was a very sick animal. I then suggested to you all that Landings Security have a net as a backup.
This morning at 8:15 I drove out to get donuts for Church. I noticed a racoon curled up by the road near the TLA office. I called it in and was told security was aware and on the way. At 8:45 I returned and the security vehicle was there. A few minutes later the racoon started to mover around. I gather from security that at that time they called and left a message with Chatham County. At 11:45 we returned and the racoon had moved across the road and was chewing away. I went to the security office and they indicated that they had yet to hear from Chatham County, with no idea when they would. During all this the racoon was quite visible near the road. My question would be , what would Chatham County do if the animal moved into the woods somewhere unknown.
While I do not expect Landings security to capture a likely sick racoon, they should have a way to temporarily secure an animal before they disappear into the woods. Repeating my suggestion of before, a net of some type might achieve that. Maybe there is a better idea. Since CC in a real world sense seems to have shortcomings, the association needs some way to neutralize the situation until they finally show up. My wife wondered, how do other similar communities handle this. As you know, anyone contracting rabies dies. My wife and daughter both went trough the painful series of shots after a run in with a bat.
Bob Rogers
The Landings – Tim Cook
REPLIES
Mark Chapman – Stone Lake Ranch
We do not capture any animals of any kind. Each owner is responsible for their own lots. We have a lot of wildlife, from snakes and gators, to Eagles and Cranes.
John Sawyer – BallenIsles
We do not, thank you
Ryan Bell – Fiddlesticks
We direct the owners to use a private company if they have an issue with an animal such as a Racoon. We get calls all of the time about Racoons. There are a few private companies in the area that trap and deal with them.
Daniel O’Connell – Williams Island
We use a professional service to keep our racoon population down with trapping and removal about once per month or as needed, however if we see a sick or injured Racoon, Possum etc… We call animal control as the rabies has been confirmed in these animals in Miami Dade at the moment. Our staff are not to attempt capture and containment if possible and to track the animal until professionals arrive.
FYI!!
If you are going to use your security staff for capture get them, then you need to get them trained and certified by the county and make sure your work comp carrier is alerted that they are doing this. I had an officer bitten by a snake and let me tell you the depositions of his law suit against us were brutal, and he called OSHA on us for the “What formal training did we give to him for removal of that snake” … Thankfully there were no lingering effects from the bite however as the snake was never caught no testing could be completed for any possible bacteria,,,, etc….. OSHA did fine us and the officer did get a lump sum payment from the insurance company.
We live in that day and age!!!!!!!!
Marvin Vasquez – The Plantation
Not in the life, nor happening
Scott DeAtley – Boca Grove
We have a private trapper that comes in and does so.
Josh Bieri – Loblolly
We do not capture any animals. I would suggest hiring an outside trapper who lives nearby.
John Grusemeyer – Shadow Wood
We do not capture(or temporarily detain- same thing in my opinion) any animals, especially rabid ones. Picking up dead animals in the roadway when maintenance is not working is one thing, but in my opinion animal control are the ones trained in this area and should be the ones who handle it. I’m sure if you spoke to animal control they would agree with you. Sounds to me like the residents want you to start the process because the response from animal control is not quick enough for their liking. Other than minor incidents, if the police don’t arrive quickly, do we assume the role of a police officer? Sorry if that sounds insensitive! LOL
Tom Cooper – Sustaining member
Critter-Gitter…they get their rabies vaccines and keep them up to date!
If you want an out, call you Work Comp carrier and let them opine on this activity, especially if catching wildlife is not in your job description….
David Weatherwax – Hilton Head
At our resort we have a pest control company on contract. When there are raccoon problems they place the cages and Security checks them every shift. When an animal is caught, security removes the cage to the gatehouse and pest control picks it up next morning.
Marie Puckett – Fiddlers Creek
Never. Raccoons haven’t really been an issue here. We do capture or kill pythons and hold for the Conservancy to pick up. Some of the guys capture and kill cane toads. We also have a Relocation Permit for alligators under 4ft.
Dieter Heinz – Eastpointe
Animal Care & Control and Busch Wildlife have advised that since we are not trained in capturing wild life, especially those possibly diseased, to absolutely NOT handle any and let the professionals do it. We in Security are very glad to follow those instructions.
Rod Hopper – Johns Island
We do not handle any wildlife here. We contact local Animal Control as well.
Warren Raymond – Porta Virta South tower
Critter Control, but you have to Pay
Dennis Marinan – Trump National
We do not capture raccoons nor many other types of wildlife. The Club, the POA, and the COA each have a contract with a wildlife trapper. If a nuisance animal(s) requires trapping the service company is called.
Michael Kiernan – Harbour Ridge
We do not
Eric Price – Quail Ridge
At Quail Ridge, we are overwhelmed by raccoons as well as many other animals and reptiles.
Animal control only responds for sick animals. I contracted a licensed trapper that has been trapping our raccoons, opossums and cats for the last 10 years. He removes anywhere from 10 or more animals each week and doesn’t even put a dent in it.
My team does respond to animal complaints but I would never put them in harms way by asking them to try to contain a raccoon. I think that it’s dangerous for the employee and it would be a liability for the employer.
I’m just sharing my thoughts. I hope it helps.
Louis Chiappetta – Audubon
We do not get near animals, trap, shoot, harass them either. It is a liability issue! Has my guard been trained in this area?
Without training in a certain area and without proper equipment you are courting a lawsuit when a crazy raccoon attacks your guard. The homeowners dont want to get sued, so why expect guards to be proficient at catching animals?
Additionally as a LCSO deputy for the last 26 years and playing animal trapper on dozens of occasions, I can tell you anything can happen when dealing with animals. At least I could shoot the animal if worst came to worse, and I have done that too but now it is not an option.
A lot of training needs to go into handling animals in order to provide that service – I would not send my guard to handle any animal call. My response would be to call fish and game (wild animals) or animal control (domestic animals) and tell the resident to stay away from the animal.
Sean Cullen – Ritz Carlton Sarasota
We have an outside vendor we hire that sets traps and returns to retrieve them and remove them from property. We would not allow our staff to try and capture themselves due to safety and liability reasons.
