Hermosa Sees Rise in Furry Critters

Imagine coming home from a long day at work to encounter a raccoon nested at the foot of your living room couch.

Such a scenario has become a reoccurring issue around town over the last two years, according to expert animal trapper Matt Klewan.

Klewan, who owns  humane animal removal service A.A. Trappers Inc., has seen an increase in local requests for rodent removal "due to all the construction that's been going on," including the Pier Avenue Improvement Project, he said. 

Klewan, whose company has been in business for 15 years, said raccoons and skunks have recently infested busy streets, such as Pier Avenue, PCH, Artesia Boulevard and even the Strand. Just last week Klewan wrote on his company's blog that his team caught six raccoons and four skunks at one PCH location.

As for the more residential areas in town, Hermosa Beach dweller Carol James said that she has had her own run-ins with local wildlife on 10th Street, where she lives. 

"A raccoon was living under a house a couple houses down from me so I know they're roaming the streets," James said. "But I've lived here for 58 years and never had a rodent problem." 

When furry critters do become a nuisance, any person or owner of a property that provides "a breeding place for vermin, insects or rodents of any kind" can be found guilty of a misdemeanor, according to the city's municipal code on health and safety.

Residents who come in contact with wildlife are encouraged to call animal trappers, such as Klewan. When he's contacted to address a problem, his team uses animal-friendly practices to trap wildlife, he said.

A number of animal control companies put critters to "sleep" once they've been caught, but according to Klewan, "the difference with humane trapping is that we release the animal after it's been caught." 

Klewan and his trapping team release the animals in natural habitats, free from the South Bay's concrete jungles and residences. Release areas include the canyons off of Mulholland Drive in Malibu or the back roads of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Greenbelts are normally ideal for catch-and-release pests, but Klewan said that Hermosa's greenbelt is too close to civilization.

"Animals need to be released at least five miles away from homes or they're more likely to come back," he said.

Klewan provided the following animal control tips:

• Reduce and eliminate easily accessible food, water and shelter. Keep tight-fitting lids on garbage cans. Frequently harvest gardens and pick up dropped fruit. Never leave food out intentionally for wild animals.
• Cover foundation vents and chimneys with slotted metal vent covers. Sealing attic vents can prevent "roof crawlers" that travel rooftop-to-rooftop.
• Rodents are known to enter homes through pet doors, so be sure to lock them at night.
• Trim tree branches so they're 10 feet away from your rooftop.
• If a wild animal does seek shelter in your home, open all doors in the home and call an animal control service immediately.