FOR RESIDENTS
- Animal bites
- Deer and Raccoons
- Deer and our Neighborhood
- Geese
- Stray animals
- Unwelcome animal intruders
- Wild animals as pets
Animal bites
If your cat or dog bites someone, identify yourself and tell the victim whether your pet's rabies vaccination is current. The city requires that your pet be quarantined - usually inside your home for 10 days. After 10 days, a city staff member will contact you to confirm if your pet is still in good health.
Rather than quarantining the animal, the pet owner may choose to release the animal to a veterinarian who will euthanize it. The veterinarian will arrange to have the University of Minnesota examine the animal for evidence of rabies. There is no charge for the rabies exam; however, the owner is responsible for all euthanization costs.
Be sure to report any animal bite: call the St. Louis Park public safety dispatcher at (952) 924-2618.
Deer and Raccoons
City ordinance prohibits setting out food for deer and raccoons. Deer predation results in costly damage to homeowners' plants and shrubs. Raccoons cause problems when they nest in chimneys and overturn garbage cans; they also harbor diseases and parasites.
Homeowners who are experiencing landscaping damage due to deer predation, can call the county extension office at (612) 374-8400 or a retail garden store for information about chemical repellents that can be sprayed on plants to give them an odor or taste that deer dislike.
Geese
City ordinance prohibits the feeding of geese. Feeding geese helps create unnaturally large concentrations of these birds, and their droppings are a major source of water pollution in our lakes. Geese droppings contribute to excessive algae growth and the development of water organisms that may spread disease to humans.
For more information see http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1154980426
Stray animals
To report a stray animal, call the St. Louis Park public safety dispatcher at (952) 924-2618. Please be ready with the animal's description and general location.
Occasionally, a squirrel, raccoon, skunk, bat or bird finds its way into a home. If you can't get the animal to leave through an open door or window, call a company that specializes in animal removal (see Yellow Pages under "Pest Control").
If you feel immediately threatened by the animal or are unsure what to do, call the public safety dispatcher at (952) 924-2618 for advice.
Unwelcome animal intruders
Occasionally, a squirrel, raccoon, skunk, bat or bird finds its way into a home. If you can't get the animal to leave through an open door or window, call a company that specializes in animal removal (see Yellow Pages under "Pest Control").
If you feel immediately threatened by the animal or are unsure what to do, call the public safety dispatcher at (952) 924-2618 or the animal control officer at (952) 924-2133 for advice.
Wild animals as pets
City ordinance prohibits residents from keeping any animal prohibited by state or federal law as well as nondomesticated animals such as skunks, bobcats, wolves, venomous snakes, etc. For more information, call the animal control officer (952) 924-2133.