Pittsburgh’s Trash Pandas Deserve Kindness, Too

It’s officially raccoon hunting season in Pennsylvania. While these garbage-loving creatures make some of us uneasy, wildlife advocates want us to think twice before laying traps. Rebecca Reid, cofounder of Scrap the Trap, is here to talk about dealing with our furry frenemies more humanely. Here are Rebecca’s top tips for responsible wildlife management: Think preventatively. Just because you don’t have wildlife issues now doesn’t mean you won’t later, so inspect your house for any holes in or around your basement and keep your doors closed. If you have urban agriculture, protect it. Try putting a wobbly fence around your vegetable garden; if a fence is too structurally sound, creatures can easily climb it and munch on your future lunch. Another fun fact: hardware cloth will keep your poultry protected better than chicken wire. If you don’t want a raccoons biting into your old banana bread, wait to put your garbage out until collection day or keep your trash secured.  Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!