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WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Show empathy for the wildlife in your area by realizing they most likely have nowhere else to go.
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Use artificial owls, hawks, or snakes to discourage small birds and squirrels from going into your fruit
trees.
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Secure the lids of your garbage cans by running a rope or chain over the lid and securing at each handle.
Prevent toppled trashcans by placing the cans in some type of anchored rack or tie them to the fence.
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Sprinkle cayenne pepper around gardens and ornamental plants to keep wildlife from digging them up.
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Take all cat and/or dog food inside before dark every night so as not to encourage an opossum or
raccoon to stay in the area for a free handout.
·
Leave a bucket containing a hose that is turned on very slowly in the yard to discourage a raccoon
from using your pool as a toilet. This "running stream" effect is usually much more attractive to the animal
and may save you from having to clean the pool too often.
·
Submerge a wire mesh horizontally around the circumference of your pond, stretching the mesh and
leaving the inside free, to deter a raccoon from raiding the fish. The fish will have the center of the pond
open and the raccoon can't reach over the wire. Because the wire is unstable raccoons tend not to
stand on it.
·
Wrap metal guards, 18 inches or wider, around trees 5 or 6 feet above the ground to deprive raccoons
of access to rooftops and other buildings.
·
Lock all pet doors at night to keep the raccoon out of the kitchen or garage.
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To avoid the possibility of wildlife animals using your home as their own, all routes of animal entry must
be sealed: open windows screened, chimney tops covered with mesh or screening, and openings where
smaller animals can get through sealed.
·
If you find a wildlife animal in your attic, place a bright light and loud radio in the area to chase the
animal out. When the attractions of the attic are removed, the animal will leave. You must observe the
animal leaving or pinpoint entrance/exit sites and seal them.
