Living with Wildlife
The North Reading Office of Animal Control as well as North Reading Police Department receives hundreds of calls a year regarding wildlife. Residents should be educated on how to keep themselves and their pets safe. Please read the following information for tips on living with the local wildlife. Any emergency situations regarding wildlife should be reported by dialing 911. Questions, inquiries, and non-emergencies can be directed to Animal Control at (978) 664-3807.
The eastern coyote resembles a medium-sized dog but has a longer, denser coat and erect ears. The tail of a coyote is long, bushy, and has a black tip. Coyotes can range from gray to red to nearly black, they generally weigh between 33 and 47 pounds depending on age and gender. Adult coyotes actively maintain a territory ranging from 2-30 square miles, this is where they travel, den, and hunt. Coyotes breed in mid-February; pups are born in a den in April or May. Summertime is when humans tend to see the most coyote activity because the pups are out and about during day light hours. Coyote pups leave their den and explore, generally people see more than one pup, sometimes the entire litter together. Coyotes are opportunistic feeders; they’ll feed on whatever is easy and readily available. Their omnivorous diet includes rodents, rabbits, deer, birds, insects, fruits, and berries. In suburban areas coyotes have been known to prey on unprotected small pets. Coyotes do not generally attack dogs for food; if a dog is attacked by a coyote the coyote most likely saw the dog as a territorial threat.
The red fox weighs from 6-15 pounds but appear heavier than they are. The red fox has a reddish coat and black legs, although the coat color can vary from a blonde to a frosted black, the white tip on the tail is their distinguishing marking from all other species. The gray fox has rusty-red fur on its ears, ruffs, and neck, but their overall coloration is gray with a dark stripe down their back. The belly, throats, and chest are whitish in color. The grey fox is the only fox species which has the ability to climb trees. Both species of fox breed mid-January-late February, giving birth to their pups March-April; the young leave their dens for the first time about a month after birth. Foxes are vocal animals; they have a large range of howls, barks, and whines. Foxes are generally shy and wary, but they are also curious. Foxes can be active at any time during the day or night, and commonly out and seen during dusk and dawn. Foxes remain active all year and actively maintain territories that may vary in size from 2-7 square miles. Foxes are omnivores, opportunistic feeders and their primary foods include small rodents, birds, eggs, vegetation, fruit and carrion. Foxes will hide and store food, go to those locations dig up and re hide their stash.
Raccoon mating season generally runs from January to March, although later mating is possible. Cubs are born in April or May and weaned approximately 70 days later; they are independent from their mother after 20 weeks. At 9-10 months cubs leave their family groups to build their own. Raccoons are mostly crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and nocturnal (active at night), however it is common for them to be active during the day if food is readily available. A raccoon out during the day is not a solid indicator the animal is sick. Raccoons are opportunistic feeders; they will eat plant materials, crayfish, crabs, freshwater turtles and their eggs, muskrat kits, injured birds, young birds, and sometimes bird eggs. They will raid garbage cans, chicken coops, and any other source of food which they can open.
Fisher cats are common in Massachusetts; they’re rarely seen by people because of their secretive and generally solitary habits. Fishers are the largest member of the weasel family. Adult males weigh between 8 and 16 pounds and adult females weigh between 4 and 6 pounds. Fishers can range from 2-3 feet long from head to tail. Fishers have sharp retractable claws for climbing; their tales make up 1/3 of their body length. Fishers breed from February to March and kits are born 1-2 months after implantation. Fisher kits leave the female late summer or early fall and begin their solitary adult lives. Fishers are shy and elusive; they are rarely seen even in areas where there are high fisher populations. Fishers can be active during the day or night but tend to be crepuscular (dawn & dusk). Nocturnal activity in the summer and diurnal (daytime) activity in the winter is normal. Fishers are omnivorous their primary foods include small rodents, birds, eggs, fruit, porcupines, and carrion. They will also opportunistically prey on poultry and domestic cats. Although they are proficient climbers most of their hunting takes place on the ground.
Help Keep Wild Animals WILD…
- DO NOT pet or feed wildlife regardless of age.
- DO secure your garbage, clean grease pans on grills, clean areas around bird feeders, keep all pet food indoors, and feed pets indoors.
- DO cut back shrubs and tall grass; it’s the perfect hiding place for both predators and prey!
- DO block off crawl spaces under porches, sheds, and other outdoor buildings
- DO keep sandboxes covered (animals can carry worms in their feces and use sand boxes as a litter box)
- DO protect your pets! Keep cats indoors, keep dogs close and DO NOT feed your pets outside.
- DO NOT let any wild animal intimidate you (see deterrence below)
- DO teach children never to pet ANY animal without adult permission. (Remember coyotes pups are particularly curious, and they are awfully cute!)
- DO pass this information along to family, friends, and neighbors!
Effective deterrence methods:
- Bright lights (automatic flood lights)
- Loud noises (bang pots and pans; beep your car horn etc.)
- Water sprayed from a hose
- The most effective deterrence for any wild animal is human presence, it is essential people do not let wild animals intimidate them, loud noises, bright lights, and hoses are excellent methods for deterrence because they keep humans at a safe distance but still scare the animals off.
Signs of a sick animal:
The most important thing to remember about any wild animal listed above is they ALL are active at times during the day; this is not necessarily an indicator of disease. The following are indicators of disease in ANY wild animal:
- Lethargy (an animal laying in your yard for hours on end)
- Uncoordinated movements (weaving back and forth, or tilting their head in one direction)
- Unprovoked aggression (many times animals will growl at their own tale, or a bush)
- Foaming at the mouth (later stages of neurological diseases can cause animals to foam at the mouth)
**do not approach any wild animal regardless of size or whether it appears sick or healthy. Sick animals are more apt to bite a person than healthy animals. If you believe you have a sick or injured animal on your property call NRPD dispatch at 978-664-3131 ext: 0 for Police dispatch.**