Bats and coyotes are no strangers to the Ferndale area. According to recent announcements from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and the Washington Department of Health (WDH), now is a good time of the year to be alert to both species.
According to the WDFW, coyote sightings become more frequent this time of year due to changes in the family units. According to the most recent WDFW newsletter,
This is a good time of year to have increases in coyote sightings due to changes in social dynamics, seasonal shifts in territory use due to resources, and having young and inexperienced individuals out and learning the ropes.
Property owners are encouraged to never to feed coyotes or provide food sources such as garbage, pet food or livestock carcasses. According to a WDFW website page regarding living around coyotes,
Click for more information
Click for more informationWhen people provide food, coyotes quickly lose their natural fear of humans and become increasingly aggressive. They also become dependent on the easy food source people provide . Once a coyote stops hunting on its own and loses its fear of people, it becomes dangerous and may attack without warning.
Since bats are sometimes found to carry rabies, the WDH warns now is the time of block possible entry points to prevent bats from roosting in your attic, garage or cabin.
“Bat-proof” your home by sealing all cracks, crevices, or holes larger than a quarter-inch with caulk. Use screens on windows, chimney caps, and draft-guards beneath doors to attics to keep them out of your living area.
As for the rabies potential,
Rabies circulates in a small percent of the state’s bat population; less than 1 in every 100 bats in the wild are estimated to carry the virus. Pets are more likely than people to have direct contact with wild animals, including bats. Cats are natural predators and more inclined to make contact with a rabid bat. Pet vaccination is the best way to keep pets and their owners from contracting this fatal illness and to avoid a lengthy pet quarantine or euthanasia if a pet encounters a rabid bat or other animal.