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Nuisance & Stray Animal Concerns
Nuisance Wildlife
Worthington residents value our community's natural and peaceful landscape, which is just one of the reasons Worthington is a wonderful place to call home. Wildlife also values the same qualities in its environment, which sometimes brings unwelcome visitors to our neighborhoods, creates conflicts, destruction of gardens and landscaping, and possible health risks.
According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, common types of nuisance wildlife include animals such as bats, roosting birds, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, snakes, squirrels, woodpeckers, groundhogs, and deer. While the City does not provide animal control services, we do want to provide resources and information to help you find solutions if animals or pests become a nuisance or health concern
- Animal Feeding
- Stray Dogs and Other Animals
- Sick or Injured Animals
- Dead Animal Removal
- Share Your Concerns
Animal Feeding
As Central Ohio continues to grow, the abundance of wildlife is adapting to dwindling natural habitats and capitalizing on the new food sources and nesting opportunities. Most times we can coexist peacefully with the creatures that take up residence in our yards and public parks, but some wildlife can become unwelcome “tenants,” causing destruction to property and, in some cases, posing a health risk.
One thing that residents can do to keep wildlife from becoming a nuisance or danger is to avoid intentional feeding. For more information on animal feeding click here.
Stray Dogs and Other Animals
Dogs and other pets are not permitted to run at large and must be under the control of their owner at all times according to City Ordinance. If you need assistance with stray animals, you may contact Franklin County Animal Control by calling (614) 525-3400 24 hours a day.
Sick or Injured Animals
If you suspect a deer or other animal is sick or fatally injured, please contact the Worthington Division of Police Non-Emergency number at 614-885-4463
Deer Fawns
You may find fawns that appear to be abandoned and worry that they need rescuing. Most of the time they should be left alone. Fawns, born from April through July, are purposely left alone by their mothers. Female deer stay away from the fawns to avoid leading predators such as dogs or coyotes to their location. The white-spotted coat camouflages a fawn as it lies motionless in vegetation.
If a wild animal has been injured or truly orphaned, do not take matters into your own hands. It is best to contact the Franklin County Wildlife Officer, to address your concerns at (614) 902-4212.
Dead Animal Removal
If a dead animal is in the City's right-of-way such as a street, City service crews can remove and dispose of the animal. The Worthington Department of Service & Engineering can be called Monday-Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at (614) 431-2425.
If the animal is on private property (in your yard, driveway, sidewalk, or home) you must perform the removal yourself or contact a private company. Search for pest control companies online or access a county-by-county list of nuisance control trappers via the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.
Share Your Concerns
If you notice unusual behavior and believe an animal to be sick or in distress, contact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-WILDLIFE (800) 945-3543 or visit wildohio.gov.
For any other concerns about wildlife, feel free to fill out this form or directly contact Management Assistant Ethan Barnhardt at ethan.barnhardt@worthington.org or 614-786-7347.
![]() Active MonthsApril | May | June | July | October | November | DecemberMore Information On Deer | Signs You May Have Deer
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Active MonthsFebruary | March | May | June | July | August | September | OctoberMore Information on Foxes | About Foxes
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Encountering a Fox
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![]() Active MonthsJanuary | February | March | April | June | July | September | October | About Coyotes
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Encountering a Coyote
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![]() Active MonthsJanuary | March | September | Signs You May Have Squirrels and/or Raccoons
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