Landscaping To Avoid

Wildlife Conflicts

Wild animals contribute to our enjoyment of nature,

and many species add aesthetic value to urban and

suburban environments. Landscapes are frequently

developed to be “environmentally friendly” by providing food and cover for songbirds, waterfowl, squirrels,

and other wildlife. Wild animals can, however, damage property or threaten human health and safety.

The presence of undesirable species or animal overpopulation often leads to many common wildlife problems associated with urban landscapes. Equipped

with the right information, landscape designers can

significantly reduce the potential for wildlife–human

conflicts and their resulting impacts on economic

interests and public safety.

What Attracts Wildlife

• Dense plantings of evergreen shrubs and trees, 

certain oak varieties, Bradford pear trees, and 

bamboo may encourage the formation of large 

roosts of flocking birds, such as blackbirds or 

starlings. Strong odor and property damage from

accumulations of acidic bird feces, noise, and the

potential for zoonotic diseases such as 

histoplasmosis are associated with bird roosts.

• Plantings of vegetation with dense foliage, such 

as conifers and magnolias, create attractive 

roosting habitats for noisy and messy birds.

• Inclusion of water courses or ponds (intermittent 

or permanent) in landscape design may attract a 

number of undesirable species. For example, 

aggressive Canada geese often take up 

residence in office parks, residential areas, golf 

courses, and other urban sites associated with 

water; the birds’ droppings are unsightly and can 

be a human health hazard. Aquatic mammals, 

like muskrats and beavers, also aggressively 

seek wet habitats and are known to damage 

ornamental shrubs and trees, vegetation, turf, 

and structures with their feeding and burrowing 

activities.

• Short turf grass planted in association with water 

can attract geese and result in feeding damage 

to turf, fouling of walkways and recreation areas, 

and contamination of the water with droppings.

• The use of plants palatable to deer can result in 

extensive browsing damage to expensive 

landscaping, increased collisions between deer 

and automobiles, and elevated potential for Lyme

disease, carried by ticks on the deer.

• Species of fruit-, berry-, nut-, and other foodproducing plants attract wild animals and, 

therefore, can endanger public health and safety 

if placed near airports, electric power stations, 

and high-traffic areas.

How To Avoid Problems

Complex wildlife conflicts can be caused by specific species and site-specific ecological factors.

Once problems develop, resolution can be costly and

complicated by environmental laws. Many problems,

however, can be avoided by careful planning and

consultation with a qualified wildlife damage management professional during the early design stage of a

landscape project. In addition to minimizing wildlife

destruction to landscapes, cooperative planning can

result in landscape designs that will attract songbirds

and other nondestructive wildlife.

WS Can Help

The Wildlife Services (WS) program of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) responds to

requests for assistance from the public to help limit

conflicts between wildlife and humans. A customerservice-oriented program, WS assists in preventing

and solving problems created when wildlife cause

damage to agricultural, urban, or natural resources.

WS also assists when wildlife activity threatens

human health and safety and endangered species.

WS professionals provide biologically sound, effective, and responsible technical recommendations and

direct control solutions to wildlife problems.

Additional Information

You may obtain additional information about WS

from any State APHIS WS office. For the address

and telephone number of the office in your area, call

the WS Operational Support Staff at (301) 734–7921.

You can also find information on WS programs by visiting the Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws.

Factsheet

Wildlife Services January 2002

APHIS
United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative

means for communication of program information (Braille, large

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

(202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and

employer.