What You Need To Know To Protect Your Property Against Nuisance Wildlife

As a homeowner, you’re tasked with protecting your property from a variety of threats. From weather events to falling objects, pests, and intruders, your home and surrounding property may be vulnerable to any number of issues.

Many North American homeowners are also faced with dealing with nuisance wildlife on a daily basis. Before we get to the best practices on wildlife control and other important information, let’s discuss some of the common types of nuisance wildlife in North America.

In North America, nuisance wildlife can depend heavily on the season. Depending on the time of year, these are some of the nuisance wildlife most commonly found in the United States and Canada:

1. Raccoons
2. Squirrels
3. Birds
4. Bats
5. Possums
6. Moles
7. Rats
8. Mice

As much as many people may love animals, nuisance animals can cause a lot of problems for a home or business. This could be damage to the structure of a building including  roofing, home invasions, damage to insulation and wiring, dug up foundation, and even waste which is known to corrode, decay, and stain.

Surrounding a home or business, wildlife can invade bird feeders, tip over trash cans and plants, and bring along other pests with them like bugs, fleas and mites that can cause other problems.

It’s also common to see wildlife cause damage to crops, landscaping and gardens due to their eating and digging. Lawns can be destroyed as they dig for nuts or chew on the bark of trees and shrubbery.

The laws and regulations surrounding wildlife in North America vary from province to province and state to state. Before taking any steps to eradicate or exclude wildlife from your property, it’s important to understand the specific laws where you live.

For example, Ontario’s laws typically prevent people from keeping the province’s native wildlife as pets. You also must get approval before collecting any species of wildlife from natural habitats or releasing any species of wildlife into the wild.

The best way to control unwanted wildlife is to always contact a professional. However, there are some very effective methods that you can use to help prevent wildlife from entering in or near your property.

Once an animal has chosen your property as their next den, you need to make sure to get them out as quickly as possible. You can use a excluder device which allows wildlife to get out but not be able to return. This is a great way to get rid of the animal quickly without having to come in contact with it. Once the animal has left, it’s best to protect vulnerable areas with heavy gauge screening.

Many animals will be attracted to places that they can hide in, which means that they love clutter and any little spaces that they can easily tuck themselves away into. The less of these areas that you provide, the less likely they are to use them.

Always be sure to put a lid on any outdoor trash cans and keep grass areas neat and tidy. Pile firewood as far away from your property as possible as these stacks can be seen as gold mines to little creatures.

You will want to clear away leaves, fruits, and seeds that could be laying on the ground around your home or business as these will also be a major target for many animals.

If your wildlife friends have access to a food source that is located in or near your property then they are bound to keep coming back. Be sure to get rid of any possible food sources such as garbage bins.

Bird feeders are also a known food source for unwanted wildlife. Ensure that your feeders are properly covered and placed in an area that is out of reach to visitors.

Remove any pet food from outside your home as it is likely to attract wildlife. Similarly, water sources can attract thirsty animals or those who are in need of a bath. Things like children’s pools should be put away after use.

The most effective way to protect your home or business from animal intrusions is exclusion done by a professional. Wildlife exclusion can be known as the methods used to prevent wildlife intrusion with everything from entry sealing to habitat modification.

Each and every type of wildlife is different which means that the methods of exclusion will vary from species to species. Depending on the season, babies are a common factor to consider in the exclusion process as well.

The best course of action, is to secure your home inside and out and get in touch with a professional for best results.

Be sure to always contact a wildlife exclusion expert that will be able to follow the laws and regulations in your area, while also removing wildlife safely. An expert will always be able to determine the best method of wildlife exclusion and removal methods for your unique situation. You will be left with the ease of mind that the job has been done right!