Pest Control and Wildlife Resources

Updated November 12, 2024

The Environmental Public Health Program in Environmental Health & Safety responds to concerns about pests and nuisance wildlife (such as raccoons and nutria), as well as reports of injured, sick or dead animals on campus. We respond to requests for assistance through pest control contractors, who serve the Seattle campus during the work week and are available for emergency situations.

Reporting pest and wildlife sightings

Please complete the Pest and Wildlife Reporting form (UWNetID required) to request service, including injured, sick or dead animals at a University location. Report as many details about the observation as possible, especially the pest's exact location and behavior.

Please report urgent pest or wildlife problems to EH&S at (206) 543-7262.

Your concern will be evaluated and prioritized, and service will be arranged as soon as possible.

We will attempt to obtain assistance for sick and injured wildlife; dead animals and birds will be disposed of properly.

Keep in mind that wildlife may carry diseases such as rabies. Never touch wildlife, including sick, injured or dead animals.

Services available

EH&S offers the following services:

Service by a pest control contractor within 48 hours of service request, during the business week
Proper disposal of dead animals
Attempt to find assistance for sick and injured wildlife
Consultation regarding the public health implications of pests
Integrated pest management, to minimize chemical use and maximize safety

Frequently asked questions

If you see wildlife that is visibly injured, sick or deceased at a UW location, report it promptly to EH&S via our reporting form (UWNetID required) or by calling (206) 543-7262.

The University works with federal wildlife biologists and professional contractors to evaluate animals, and where necessary, to support safe and appropriate removal of sick, injured, or dead wildlife from campus locations.

After reporting it to EH&S, take these actions:

Do not touch or attempt to move a deceased, sick or injured animal. This can spread illness (if the animal is sick), lead to injury to yourself or further injury to the animal. Some wildlife species are protected; removing and handling a protected animal is illegal and should only be done by state or federal wildlife biologists and licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
Be quiet and give a sick or injured animal space. An injured or sick animal will be stressed and may act unpredictably (e.g., bite or scratch) if it feels threatened. Wildlife survives by instinctually avoiding interactions with humans and domestic animals. Habituating wildlife to human contact may endanger them and you. Also, human voices, touch, and presence are not soothing to wildlife; they further stress an animal already in a compromised state.
Do not allow pets to get close to or touch the animal. This can spread illness if the animal is sick, lead to injury to your pet, and further injure and stress the wild animal.
Do not attempt to give the animal food or water. Though well-intentioned, giving an injured or unwell animal food or water often further harms it. Wildlife can die due to improper feeding or watering or if fed inappropriate food items. Injured or unwell animals can be in shock, or their body may be so compromised that it cannot process food and water. Leaving food out next to an injured animal will also draw pests and other wildlife to the injured or sick animal’s location.
Avoid unprotected contact with any secretions or excrement from wildlife. Wash hands with soap and water if you have touched surfaces that have been in contact with the animal or animal secretions.

Animals in their natural environment know their needs best. If we can spare wildlife the stress of being handled and transported away from their natural surroundings, we should. Often wild animals do not require human intervention unless they are in immediate danger, are clearly sick or injured, or showing signs of distress.

1. Human food harms wildlife.

Eating human food can have little nutritional value for animals, causing malnutrition and affecting their growth and wellbeing.
Human food left out in the environment can grow molds and germs, which can rot an animal’s stored food and make them sick.

2. Wildlife can lose their natural instincts and become aggressive.

When animals are fed human food regularly, they stop foraging and lose essential nutrition that keeps them healthy.
If wildlife become comfortable around humans they may aggressively approach or attack people for food, which is dangerous for both humans and animals.
Pests and small wildlife attracted by human food sources will attract larger predators (such as coyotes and raccoons) to campus buildings and use areas, escalating health and safety risks for our campus community.

3. Feeding wildlife can spread diseases and cause damage.

Wildlife gathering together to feed on human food can spread illnesses to other animals, pets and people (even if they don’t appear sick).
Insects, rodent pests and nuisance wildlife with easy access to human food can overpopulate and damage campus grounds and buildings.

4. It’s illegal to handle, harass, or attract wildlife.

Handling or harassing wildlife violates Washington state laws (WAC 220-450-030; RCW 77.08.010).
Creating unsanitary conditions that could transmit disease, support pests, and/or attract animal predators is prohibited by state, county (King, Pierce) and city regulations in Bothell, Seattle (10.34, 10.24), and Tacoma.

There are many ways to connect with nature at the UW that don’t involve interacting with or feeding wildlife. UW Sustainability and the UW Center for Nature and Health suggest ways the UW community can engage with and enjoy nature responsibly without touching or feeding wildlife.

Find out more about common wildlife species and how to avoid conflict with them on the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Living with Wildlife webpage website. You can also contribute to citizen science by sharing wildlife observations.

Please help keep wildlife wild.

Bats flying overhead, and bats that have not had direct contact with humans or animals, do not pose a risk for transmitting rabies. Therefore, if a bat is found outdoors, and it has had no contact with any person, no action is needed.

However, if you suspect a bat has bitten, scratched or come into direct contact with you or another person, get medical attention immediately.

For more information about bats and rabies on UW campuses, please see the Bats and Rabies Focus Sheet.

For more information about bats and rabies in King County, please visit www.kingcounty.gov/bats.