what would be an amicable resolution to a conflict between neighbors?

Question

The one neighbor cannot use their backyard or pool because of snakes and other wildlife coming onto their property. The wildlife is coming from a farm adjacent to their land that grows wildflowers and natural grasses; snakes, mice and other animals live in these wildflowers and grasses. Without the farm buying out the neighboors or shutting down their growing business (or a lawsuit), what can these farmers do to avoid obstructing their neighbors free use of their property?

Answer 1

There is not a good solution. You can file a suit and maintain that the neighbors are maintaining a nuisance on their property. But if the property is zoned for this type of use there is no way you are going to win. I doubt you could win even in the absence of zoning. This sounds like a pretty passive use of the land--they are not introducing this wildlife onto their property.

I guess you could try to prevail upon them to do some trapping and etc. Perhaps help bear a part of the cost. Perhaps they would settle a lawsuit int his way to avoid litigation.

But I do not think in general the neigbor with the pool, etc. has much of a case.

Answer 2

If the farm was there first, and hasn't substantially changed the way the land is used, the neighbour needs to STFU.

I grew up on a farm in England and it was amazing how many people moved into my "quaint" quiet village, built their $500,000 "cottages"......and then wanted to change everything & wanted to chase off farmers & others who'd lived in the village for the last 500 years.

Having said that - what's really grown on the land ? flowers & natural grasses aren't normally cash crops - unless you're talking about permanent pasture (for cattle to graze on). Farmers normally only want the cash crop growing in the field & will spray & do almost anything to remove weeds (anything else).

Has anyone talked with the farmer about what he's growing ? I definitely think - whatever the solution - the rest result can be got by sitting everyone down, having a few cold beers, admiring the sunset & finding what they have in common. Using lawyers, ends up with.....the lawyers getting rich & everyone else getting mad :-)

Answer 3

i have a hard time believing that the one neighbor can't use their backyard or pool because of snake or wildlife . . . there would have to be a lot of snakes. It sounds like an excuse to me.

At any rate, a good fence should solve about 95 percent of the wildlife issue. The other 5 percent should be tolerable as with any yard.

Answer 4

<>I agree that the onus is on the neighbor with the open lawn, not the farmer. If you intrude on nature, you bear the responsibility. Build a fence or move away; and there is nothing farmer need do. Available farmland is disappearing too fast anyway, and it's due to uncontrolled, unnecessary development.

Answer 5

why does the farmer have to find a solution. if this land was left to grow wild, there would still be the same problem of pests. so, the man with the pool should deal with the pests himself. there are traps and poisons available, and he could always consult an exterminator for suggestions or hire their services to rid them of the pests.

Answer 6

Build a FENCE around the backyard. An old style wood picket fence will do the trick and will be INFINITELY cheaper then any court action.

Answer 7

as long as the farm is zoned a farm, then nothing
that's like moving next to a airport and complaining of the jet noise
gawd people are stupid

Answer 8

for a fee and use of the pool you may lease may cat "smooches"