Backyard Breeding Time Is Here In The Tri-Towns

ESSEX, CHESTER, DEEP RIVER, CT — This time of year, here in Connecticut, many wild animals are searching for warm, dry nooks and crannies to build suitable dens and future homes in, as the breeding season for foxes, coyote, raccoons and squirrels is here.

According to Chris Vann, a wildlife biologist with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), reinforcing the perimeter of your home, porches, crawl spaces, workshops, garages and sheds is one way to take down the welcome sign for unwanted wildlife guests. He also recommends checking your chimneys (and putting up chimney caps, if you don’t already have one) and attic louver vents to make sure they are not damaged or open, giving carte blanch to woodland critters looking to become permanent house guests.

“Even holes in the exterior of your home, that were made by woodpeckers, can become homes for squirrels, and you won’t know it until they are crawling up and down your walls and you hear them,” said Vann.

He suggests that homeowners be proactive and take a quick look around and put screens up over any holes that are found to deter the wild animals from setting their homes on their property. If you really want to keep the wildlife at bay, he suggests putting up a fence and taking down bird feeders that cause wild animals to congregate in your yard.

“Some people can tolerate fox having dens under their sheds and garages, but we definitely suggest taking immediate action if homeowners notice that coyotes have set up a den under a structure or near a house, because they cause a greater risk to domestic animals and people,” explained Vann, who said that the number of coyote complaints the DEEP has received this year has been comparable to years before and is not currently on the rise.

“We have a huge number of coyotes around here,” said Caitlyn Sikora, animal control officer for Chester, Deep River and Essex. “We have had numerous complaints about them in residents’ back yards, and they are not afraid of people. They are a huge concern for our domestic pets, especially this time of year.”

She added, “We suggest that people keep their dogs on leashes at all times while walking or hiking in the woods. We have had reports of seeing coyotes on the trails that have charged dogs or stalked them, so it's much safer for the dogs if they are on leashes and near their owners.”

Sikora also suggests keeping cats indoors and making sure that you are outside with dogs, especially at night, even if they are in a fenced-in yard, because coyotes are very capable of jumping fences.

According to the Connecticut DEEP website:

In Connecticut, the breeding season for coyotes is from January to March, and the gestation period is about 63 days. Coyotes are monogamous. The male and female usually maintain pair bonds for several years.

For fox, the breeding season is from January through March. After a gestation period of 51 to 53 days, females give birth to a litter averaging four or five pups. Red foxes may dig their own burrows, but they usually improve an abandoned woodchuck burrow. It also is common for foxes to den in the crawl space under decks and sheds.

Raccoons breed in late winter or early spring. The male does not remain with the female after breeding. The young are born in April or May after a 63-day gestation period. Females produce one litter per year, with an average of four cubs per litter.

Also, gray squirrels mate in late winter and spring. After a 44-day gestation period, females give birth to a litter of two to seven young. They are blind and helpless at birth but are weaned and somewhat independent at 8 to 10 weeks of age. The second litter is usually born in July.

More information about animals is available at DEEP.

All nuisance wildlife calls must be directed to the DEEP at 860-424-3333. If you have questions for the animal control officer in Chester, Deep River and Essex call 860-767-4340, ext. 160, or email her at csikora@essexct.gov.