Wildlife Services

If you encounter a raccoon, skunk, bat, fox, or coyote that is behaving abnormally or appears sick, KEEP YOUR DISTANCE and call 311 immediately.

Dead Wildlife

Dead wildlife and feral cats on public roads should be reported to the City’s General Services Department at (916)727-4770 or by emailing The General Services Department.  

Dead birds can be reported to the California Department of Public Health online here. For more information on West Nile Virus, visit the California Department of Public Health website or fightthebite.net.

Nuisance Wildlife Issues

Wildlife services are handled by the Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. A Federal Wildlife Specialist can be reached at (916) 875-6603, option 5, Monday through Friday between 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM.  

Injured Wildlife

If you have found injured or orphaned wildlife, the fastest way to get help is to take it to the Wildlife Care Association. Click here for more information.

Wildlife Care Association
5211 Patrol Road
McClellan, CA 95652
Intake Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
(916) 965-WILD (9453)

Citrus Heights Animal Services will pick up and evaluate sick or injured wildlife. Please call 311 for this service.

Living With Wildlife

The Sacramento Valley is home to a diverse animal population. Feral cats and wildlife often coexist in the many greenbelt areas in and around Citrus Heights. If we all do our part, nuisance wildlife issues will decrease, and feral cat problems can be reduced. Three factors have had a major influence on the surge in nuisance wildlife and cat complaints during the last several years:

  1. Mild winters and late rains kept natural resources bountiful. Similarly, during drought conditions, Irrigation runoff from overwatered lawns, wading pools, and other shallow-standing bodies of water attract animals, especially in the summer heat.
  2. Due to a rough economy, unaltered, abandoned cats continue breeding in the wild, adding to the feral cat colonies in and around our city.
  3. Outdoor feeding, including bird seed, attracts skunks, squirrels, and raccoons, in addition to feral cats and other wildlife.

What can you do?

Fortunately, we can all do a little and make a difference. Here are a few key things we can all do:

  • Be responsible for your own pets. Spay/neuter and vaccinate your pets, especially outdoor cats. Low or no-cost spay/neuter and vaccination services are available.
  • Don’t feed pets or strays outdoors. If you do, remove leftovers immediately and put the feeding dishes away no later than dusk.
  • Eliminate hiding and nesting spots. Trim shrubbery at least 8 inches above the ground. Remove junk and wood piles from your yard. Block access to basements and sheds.
  • Clean up fallen fruit.
  • Secure compost and garbage bin lids.
  • Use motion-sensing sprinklers to deter animals from entering your yard.

For more information on Living with Wildlife, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

Wildlife Sightings and Concerns

Hunting or game animals and wildfowl - turkeys, deer, mountain lions, and coyotes - fall under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. File an online incident report or contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife at 916.358.2900 if you are having problems with:

Report dead fish or wildlife to the Department of Fish and Game.