L. Douglas Hotton

Wildlife Complaints and Their Resolutions in Maryland

Wildlife complaints received by the Maryland Forest, Park and Wildlife Service from a 5-county study area of Maryland were evaluated to improve Maryland's wildlife complaint program. Data collected included type of wildlife causing complaint, type of damage or problem, method used to resolve complaint, and response of complainant to resolution of problem. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) caused the most complaints (24.9%) and 5 of the total 16 wildlife groups caused 68.4% of the complaints. Fifty-seven percent of the complaints involved houses, yards, gardens, or crops. Explaining the habits of...