14 Creatures You Are Legally Forbidden To Remove From Your Home And Garden
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Can you imagine tending to your garden or relaxing at home, only to find an unexpected guest? It’s incredible to find out that if we own homes, some creatures deserve to have their space, too. Without these creatures, our ecosystems would break down, and the laws protecting them are there to keep them alive.
The legal framework for protected species differs from region to region. But, at its heart, this is aimed at conservation and biodiversity protection. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, over 1,600 species are protected by the Endangered Species Act. To maintain ecological balance, mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and insects have been safeguarded from extinction.
These protections often include animals you might encounter in your backyard, reminding you to know and comply with local regulatory requirements. Here are 14 creatures legally forbidden to remove from your home or garden.
Barn Owls and Ecosystem Health
Barn owls occur naturally almost everywhere and are protected by various wildlife acts due to their decreased numbers caused by habitat loss and human interference.
A study in the journal Bird Conservation International stresses the value of these nocturnal hunters to agricultural ecosystems, where they naturally keep down pests without using harmful pesticides. If you have barn owls where you live, federal law requires that you don’t disturb or remove them without a permit: they are valuable to the ecology.
Majestic European Pine Marten
European pine marten, whether curious and elusive or master of its woodland domain, is one of nature’s most elusive animals. Forests would be seriously compromised without these mammals, which contribute to maintaining and enhancing ecosystem structure and function.
Research has shown they help control small mammal populations, promoting plant regeneration and diversity. Those homeowners lucky enough to have pine martens as neighbors need to know that it is illegal to disturb their dens. Instead, the focus can be directed towards finding alternative nesting sites to which they can move.
Bats: Hidden Heroes of the Night
Far too often, bats are given a bad rap simply because of their connection with eerie folklore. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says these mammals are most important in insect control and pollination.
Because habitat destruction and diseases such as white-nose syndrome threaten most bat species, the vast majority are protected globally, including under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. According to the US Forest Service, just one bat can gobble up almost one thousand insects per hour. If bats use your attic as a home base, it’s essential to get professionals to remove them safely, as DIY just doesn’t work and could even break the law and harm bats.
Dormice: Tiny Guardians of the Forest
Dormice aren’t just cute; they signify a healthy ecosystem. However, these nocturnal creatures suffer much from habitat loss and are protected under several conservation laws. Dormice also helps with seed dispersal and rebuilding an evergreen forest.
If you have a dormouse in your home, it’s not advisable to handle it. Instead, it would be best to create a natural environment for them to stay outside by keeping hedgerows and planting native flora.
The Amphibian Allies: Frogs & Toads
ResearchGate mentions that these amphibians are protected because they are indicators of environmental health. Numerous amphibian species threaten extinction; therefore, legal protection is essential, according to the ‘Global Amphibian Assessment,’ which states that more than 40 percent of amphibian species are threatened.
Instead of getting rid of these critters, gardeners can improve their yards and help maintain amphibian habitats by planting water features and native plants.
Great Crested Newts: Keeping Aquatic Balance
The pond ecosystems are so intricate that even great crested newts represent a testimony. These newts were protected under the European Union’s Habitats Directive and thrived in aquatic environments with as much vegetation as possible.
Great crested newts help conserve aquatic biodiversity by preying on other invertebrates. If newts live in your garden pond, add some features to make their lives easier: gentle slopes for easy access.
The Beetle Brigade: Unsung Heroes of Decomposition
Beetles are pests but essential to nutrient cycling and decomposition. Some protected species, like the American burying beetle, have declined to low numbers.
ScienceDirect mentions that dung beetles are beneficial decomposers of organic matter that also improve soil health. Keeping dead wood and pesticide-free will encourage beetle populations, and these decomposers will continue to work as they do.
Squirrels: Agile Acrobats of the Trees
Squirrels aren’t just fast, acrobatic pests; they’re helping with reforestation and seed dispersal. Not all squirrels are protected, but species like the red squirrel benefit from legal protection because of the way they are vanishing.
Wildlife Online says squirrels help forest regeneration by forgetting where they bury seeds. However, homeowners and their furry foragers can coexist by offering squirrel-proof feeders and creating natural barriers to keep squirrels out of gardens.
Moles: Master Diggers of the Subterranean World
While moles can rag on lawns, they are protected in many places because they aerate soil and control pests. Moles improve soil structure and promote plant growth.
Natural deterrents—like vibrating stakes and planting deep-rooted grasses—may prevent moles from entering your yard and avoiding its dangers.
The Influence of Snakes on Rodent Populations
According to Save the Snakes Organization, Snakes might be feared, but essential to rodent population control. Snake species are protected under conservation laws because they are ecologically important.
Snakes provide a service to balancing ecosystems by preying on small mammals. Disrupt their environment by keeping gardens nice and tidy, sealing all entry points, and offering natural deterrents, such as some plant species.
Skunks: Nature’s Pest Controllers
Despite their infamous smell, skunks are good because of their pest control ability. Many of these mammals are also at risk due to their ecological roles and potential disease transmission risk and are protected by state law.
To peacefully coexist with skunks, secure the garbage bins, and destroy the sites that are liable to have been used by the skunks in hiding.
Foxes: Guardians of Biodiversity
Foxes are fantastic creatures that do their part to keep ecological balance and check their small mammal populations. Predation is one mechanism foxes use to shape ecosystems.
Citrus peels and other natural repellents can keep foxes at bay from invading your home, and securing livestock will help deter the noise from foxes that make homeowners unhappy.
Badgers: Ecosystem Engineers
Burrowing is one key to badgers’ survival. They burrow to help soil health and biodiversity. Badger Trust confirms that these animals are protected under numerous wildlife acts and recognized for their essential roles in seed dispersal and habitat creation.
Badger setts offer refuge for several other species and help provide ecosystem resilience. Although they may coexist, they must not be disturbed in their sets (setts), and you should attempt to create barriers to move their activities away from sensitive areas.
The Surprising Role of Raccoons
There is an aspect to raccoons that most people don’t consider: their exceptional abilities as trappers. Yet raccoons are considered a nuisance species but play an essential role in ecosystem health. They eat insect larvae, and they help spread seeds.
Wildlife regulations protect raccoons’ adaptability to urban environments, making them ecologically significant. Raccoons can do well in altered human landscapes. Securing waste and sealing entry points to your home can prevent raccoons from entering and can help avoid conflicts with homeowners.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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