City Of Mission Viejo: Protecting Wildlife And Domestic Animals

Press release from the City of Mission Viejo:

June 21, 2021

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center recently received a call regarding a skunk stuck in a rat trap. When Animal Services Officer Stewart arrived, he saw an adult skunk with its paw stuck in the trap. He could tell the skunk was in pain and quickly took the trap off without getting sprayed. Luckily, the skunk was healthy other than a swollen paw. By watching the skunk scamper off, Officer Stewart knew it did not need medical attention.

Many residents place traps on their properties to trap vermin. Unfortunately, these can end up trapping other animals like raccoons, skunks, opossums, predatory birds, other wildlife and domestic animals.

Rat snap traps are thought to be a humane way to catch and kill vermin. These traps, however, are not effective and can cause severe injuries to wildlife and domestic animals that can result in amputations or even slow and painful deaths. Rodents are fast and are rarely caught in these traps. Please consider alternate ways to rid your property of rodents. 

For more information, visit cmvas.org or call 949-470-3045.

This press release was produced by the City of Mission Viejo. The views expressed here are the author’s own.