Posted: July 11, 2008
Because of changes imposed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Port St. Lucie’s animal control officers will no longer remove nuisance animals from private property, unless the animals are ill or injured.
This means that homeowners who call seeking the removal of raccoons, opossums, foxes, etc., will now have to call a private trapping service instead of the city’s Animal Control Department. Port St. Lucie’s officers will respond to remove any animal from inside a house, but now they are authorized only to release the critters outside on the same property.
Reptiles (such as snakes and alligators), rabbits, and other animals are exempt from the new changes because they are not defined by the state as “nuisance” animals, so city animal control officers will continue to remove them from private property when called.
City officers used to drive the captured animals to unpopulated areas and release them, but because of concern of spreading diseases from one area to another, animals that are defined as “nuisance” by the FWC now must be euthanized or released on the same property where they were caught. The city does not euthanize animals, and therefore has no option but to release them.
Private trappers do not operate under city policy and follow other procedures when removing animals. Private trappers can be found in the Yellow Pages under “Animal Removal Service” and under ”Pest Control Services.” Also, the FWC Web site has a list of trappers who have indicated a willingness to work in St. Lucie County. They are listed by city, including Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce.
For more information, contact:
Ed Cunningham
Communications Director
City of Port St. Lucie
(772) 871-5219