Opossums burrow and nest under houses or in garages, rummaging through garbage cans and harassing pets. Nutria can damage agricultural crops and destroy water-retaining structures like dams and dikes. Without control, muskrats can completely destroy the vegetation in a marsh, making it uninhabitable as a nesting and feeding area for waterfowl and shorebirds. Predation River otter, mink, raccoon, pine marten, skunk, weasel, fox, bobcat and coyote are carnivores that prey on both domestic and wildlife animals. Raccoon, skunk and opossum are nest destructors, taking the eggs of any species found.
Raccoons can also destroy artificial bird nest structures such as bluebird and wood duck nest boxes.
Coyotes, bobcat, foxes, raccoon, weasel and mink prey on many kinds of wildlife, domestic animals, and at times pets, and are especially destructive to the young of various species. A BMP is a method to improve an activity or set of activities by developing recommendations based on sound scientific information, while maintaining practicability. The BMP's apply to the 12 species listed above and an additional six species found in Oregon including mink, red fox, gray fox, nutria, opossum, and skunk. The BMPs are based on regional differences in trapping conditions and describe the best traps and trapping methods for a specific target species. Traps tested in 1999 include several new and modified coil and long-spring models, cage traps and restraining snares.