Wildlife sighting advice offered by Cobb

Cobb County officials are offering several guidelines to protect yourself, family, pets and property from the county’s vast array of wildlife.

Deter wildlife from coming onto your property in these ways:

• Do not place garbage bags on the curb until the morning of pick-up.
• Secure basement vents and hatch doors.
• Lock or remove pet doors, especially between dusk and dawn.
• If wildlife is coming around bird feeders, remove the bird feeder for a couple of weeks.
• Do not feed pets or stray animals outside.
• Do not allow your pets to roam free.
• Provide a safe outdoor enclosure for your pets or keep them inside.
• Remove debris such as limbs that are piled up.

While the county does not respond to wildlife calls, if the animal is injured or is causing an immediate threat to public safety, Cobb County Animal Services will respond.

Call Cobb Animal Services at 770-499-4136; and if the situation is an emergency, call 911.

You also may contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division at 770-918-6401 or GeorgiaWildlife.com/NuisanceWildlife.

Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort (AWARE) Wildlife Center (AwareWildlife.org) rehabilitates Georgia’s injured and orphaned native wildlife and educates the community about habitat preservation and peaceful coexistence.