Lacombe Town Talk: Wild animals becoming nuisances

Carol Guillory By Carol Guillory The Times-Picayune
on October 30, 2010 at 9:00 AM

David Milliken of Lacombe, a trained wildlife control expert licensed through Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, said he has been receiving a significant increase in calls from residents throughout St. Tammany, asking for help in the capture of wild animals that are becoming a nuisance by killing small pets on private property.

lacombe-milliken.jpgWildlife control expert David Milliken holds a raccoon, approximately 8 months in age, recently caught after making itself a nuisance in a heavily populated area. The raccoon soon will be released in a more appropriate area. According to Milliken, he has received a significant increase in calls from north shore residents asking for help in the capture of wild animals that are becoming a nuisance or danger.

Milliken said some of the animals he has captured most recently include raccoons, fox, alligators, snakes and even a bobcat from near the Covington area.

He contributes this increase partially to the dry weather, but mostly because of the destruction of the natural habitat of the wild animals from past hurricanes, and from the increased clearing of wooded areas for new construction.

Milliken also explained that residents trap a young, wild animal on their property and try to keep it as a pet, with the thought that it can be released upon maturity or onset of viciousness. Though anyone has a right to trap a wild animal on their personal property, it is against the law in any populated area to keep a wild animal as a pet or to kill it, he warns.

Releasing a trapped wild animal also can be dangerous for a person not properly trained or licensed, he said, as some trapped animals have been known to turn on and attack their captors immediately upon release.

Residents who want to set a trap to catch a wild animal should refer to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries website,, for a list and contact numbers of local licensed wildlife control experts.

Milliken also warned north shore residents about allowing small pets and small children to be outdoors at any time without adult supervision. The danger escalates after dark, he said.

It also is not a good idea to leave food, including pet food, outside after dark as this will only contribute to the problem by encouraging wild animals to come closer into residents’ yard.
