Nuisance Animal Q&A
The nuisance animal program guides nuisance animal management at University of Idaho. It is based on the task force on animal control’s recommendations to the university president in the fall of 2016.
The president delegated authority for a transparent and humane nuisance animal management program to the vice president for infrastructure. Facilities is implementing the nuisance animal management program. U of I worked with the Moscow Police Department and the Humane Society of the Palouse to develop the program.
Nuisance animal best describes the type of animal addressed. A nuisance animal is a non-research animal that may pose a health or property risk.
University of Idaho’s primary goal in nuisance animal management is to protect students, employees, guests and property from disease, injury and damage caused by nuisance animals. All nuisance animal management activities in support of this goal will be undertaken in an efficient, compliant and humane fashion with euthanasia of nuisance animals being viewed as a last resort.
Facilities will determine if a threat to health or property exists.
Education in U of I’s process will be provided for all employees involved in nuisance animal management.
Animals not posing a risk to health or property will remain on university property.
If an animal is a risk, U of I facilities staff will decide if removal is necessary. A licensed contractor may be hired or U of I may decide to trap the animal in question. Trapping will only be done when traps can be actively monitored and removal done expediently. Trapped animals will be removed from campus by Moscow Police Department/Animal Control, which has procedures for humanely handling such animals. If necessary, Idaho Fish and Game may be contacted.
U of I may trap within the guidelines of the Nuisance Animal Management Program.
The Moscow Police Department/Animal Control and licensed contractors have relocation protocol they follow. Relocation of nuisance animals will not be handled by U of I staff. Involved parties agree that euthanasia is a last resort in dealing with nuisance animals and will not be performed by U of I staff.
No. While public input was considered, the university will employ an as-needed removal program based on the nuisance animal program guidelines.
Education: People living on the Moscow campus will be provided information, in collaboration with the Humane Society of the Palouse, about safety and humane treatment of pets — and will be encouraged to chip pets.
Policy update: APM 40.22 is being updated to reflect the Nuisance Animal Management Program guidelines.
Annual meetings: The vice president of infrastructure will meet annually with constituent groups (including Moscow Police Department/Animal Control and the Humane Society of the Palouse) to review the program.
Call U of I Facilities at 208-885-6246 or Public Safety at 208-885-2254.