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Wildlife Emergency
Living With Wildlife: Avoiding Close Encounter
of the Wildlife Kind Have you been hearing the patter of little feet? Are your walls emitting
scratching noises? What about some peeping sounds? You may be experiencing
“close encounters” of the wildlife kind. With almost 80 percent of the
U.S. population living in urban or suburban areas, the average
person is likely to encounter wildlife in their backyard or even in
or around their house. Most people do not mind, and even enjoy
having wildlife in their backyards; however, conflicts between
wildlife and people do happen.While prevention is the best
solution to almost any wildlife conflict there are some simple,
effective, and humane strategies to resolve common conflicts with
your wild neighbors.
Click for specific wildlife solutions
[wildlife proof your home]
[dangerous dryer vents]
[animal attic antics]
[boat babies]
[chimneys catastrophe]
[porch problems]
[open overhangs]
[window well wastelands]
[wings and windows]
[birds building nest]
[problems with waterfowl]
[my garden is gone]
[non-toxic wildlife deterrent spray]
[to trap or not to trap]
[wildlife neighbors or nuisance: how to get them
to move out] Early in the spring is the best time to
“encounter-proof” your house. It is important to do this
before the wild creatures begin to have babies so you do not trap either the mothers or
their young. Follow the links above for information specific to your
problem areas. When it is time for one of your wild neighbors
to find a new home, the following suggestions are simple and humane
ways to handle the situation.Wildlife Neighbors or
Nuisance: How to get them to move out
Although many people do not mind, and even
enjoy, wildlife in their backyards, wildlife can sometimes make
themselves a little too "at home." Here are some helpful hints on
how to get critters to move on.
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If you know where the animal is nesting, place an ammonia soaked rag in
or near the area where the animal is entering and
exiting. Soak rags every day to keep them smelling strong or
place them in a cup to maintain their dampness.
Ammonia mimics predator urine which can be intimidating
especially for small mammals. You should not use ammonia
or other scent deterrents for birds, they will be ineffective.
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Play a radio by their home. Talk radio
stations tend to work the best because it makes the animal feel as
though there are people around when they may otherwise not be. Animals like it quiet
especially when they have young, so
this a a great way to get them to move on. Keep in mind the
species you are dealing with as to the times you should have the
radio on; is the animal primarily nocturnal or are they daytime
animals?
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Place a portable light near or shining into their home.
Animals prefer the cover of darkness when they are hiding or
nesting. This technique is most effective for primarily
nocturnal animals.
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Unless they have young in a nest, animals will only stay in one
place for a period of time if they feel comfortable doing so.
Consider unique ways to make their world seem different.
For example, for animals that spend time on the ground place
whirly-gigs, yard flags or pinwheels near areas you would like
them to avoid. For animals spending time in trees, tie
strips of Mylar or streamers in the branches that will flap and
flutter in the breeze and startle the animal.
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Any other obstacles, detours or annoyances that you can
incorporate into your landscape, especially those that limit the
access animals have to the things they want, will help to
convince them that they need to find a new territory.
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If the animal is in your attic, shed, or other enclosed space you
can also use, as a last resort, a one-way-door. Before deciding
on this option you must be sure that there are no young present
or that the young are old enough to escape on their own to
prevent from being trapped inside. To install, cut a piece of
hardware mesh larger than the hole with a hole cut into its
center matching what is underneath. Cut another piece slightly
larger than the hole and attach it to the outside with wire
loops on half the door. This will allow any animal within that
space to squeeze out the flap as though it were a doggy door,
but if it is tight enough they will be unable to push their way
back in when they return.
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Remember that these methods always work best if used
simultaneously with each other.
Wildlife Proof Your
Home: Eliminate Access and Attraction
Other than specific problem areas and solutions, there are some general areas of
access and
attraction for mammals and birds. Remember, the goal is always to keep these solutions
safe and harmless for you, your pets, and the wildlife.
Brush, debris, and trees that are close to a house are strong attractions for
wildlife to gain entry to your house or to set up nests in your yard. Trim
branches that offer squirrels and raccoons a launching pad to the house. Put
debris and brush piles as far from your house as possible.
Food sources are a huge attraction. If you feed your pets outside, remove the
food and dishes after your pet has eaten. Keep garbage cans in the garage and
keep the garage door/s closed at all times. If you must keep garbage cans
outside, fasten the lids securely with chain or bungee cords and douse them
periodically with ammonia (a good deterrent for all wildlife). Compost piles
make tasty grazing for many different kinds of wildlife. Screen the perimeter
or place screening over the pile of compost.
Animal Attic Antics
 Any mammal or bird can take up residence in an attic, but most likely you find squirrels, raccoons, birds, and possibly bats. Bats are able to get through
extremely small apertures such as louvered vents, loose screening, roof peaks,
dormer windows, or areas where flashing has pulled away from rooflines or
siding. All of these areas can offer openings for wildlife occupancy.
Solutions:
Screening over louvers, vents, and other openings can be a
big deterrent. Also, caulking compound and expanding foam insulation will fill the very small
cracks. Remember, bat are great insect controllers so put up a bat house.
Dangerous Dryer Vents
Dryer vents are particularly attractive to small mammals like
chipmunks or to small birds. Often they will climb in and get
trapped.
Solution: Cover the opening of the vent with wire mesh
hardware cloth.
Boat Babies
Raccoons, opossums, and even birds can build nests for young in boats that have
been stored for the winter. Tarpaulins
can blow off. It only takes a small opening for wildlife to move in and set up
a nursery.
Solutions:
Check boats regularly, especially those boats in storage, before they are moved
to a garage or driveway. If a mother has had young in the boat and
the boat has been outside, it is better to put the family safe in
the wild rather than move them in the boat.
Chimney Catastrophe
Birds, raccoons, squirrels and bats can nest in chimney areas.
Birds often can get in, but can not get out.
Solutions: Inexpensive screen or hardware netting can be
used to cover or cap off top of a chimney. The best solution
is a chimney cap. They are readily available at home supply
stores. Please remember to remove all nest debris from the
chimney before capping to prevent a possible fire hazard.
Companies that clean chimneys will also install caps.
Porch Problems
The space under raised porches and decks is an attractive spot
for various animals to take up residence.
Solution: The best way to keep animals out is to cover any
openings with mesh hardware cloth or wood slating. To prevent
digging animals from breaching your barrier, bury the barrier a
foot into the ground.
Open Overhangs
Raccoons, squirrels, and songbirds love to set up house in your
overhangs.
Solution: Keep your soffits and facia in good repair.
Watch for trees or overhanging branches that might provide the
initial access. Wrap your trees near the house with sheet
metal about five feet off the ground. To keep birds from
nesting under your overhangs hang strips of shinny paper or caution
tape to keep them from setting up house.
 Window Well Wastelands
Uncovered window wells can be a danger for animals that may fall
in and be unable to get out.
Solution: Cover your window wells with either commercial
plastic covers or with hardware cloth or homemade grates. If
an animal has fallen into your window well provide a ramp like a
board so the animal can climb out.
Wings and Windows
Often birds mistake windows for open areas to fly through.
The result is often a traumatic collision.
Solution: Purchase from window clings that come in a
variety of fun shapes and colors. They simply stick to your
window and break up the clear, reflective surface. Also a fine
plastic mesh can be purchased at many birding supply stores that can
be stapled to the outside of the window to soften a potential
collision.
Birds Building Nests
Birds will often build nests in a variety of places including in
your front porch flower basket or on top of your mail box. Any
flat surface of your home is a potential spot for the nest building
process to take place.
Solution: The best prevention is to change the surface from
flat to elevated. A 45 degree angle or more works best.
Simply attach a piece of hardware cloth or sheet metal to the
potential site.
Problems with
Waterfowl
Golf courses, parks, and private lawns have three things in common,
they are popular people places, they have lush green grass, and lots
of waterfowl! While we may enjoy a day at the park watching the
ducks and geese we don’t enjoy the mess they leave behind.
Landscape Changes
Geese and many ducks require large areas of
short vegetation and love grass shoots and open shorelines making
your yard or beach a favorite place to nest and feed. Make your
space less desirable by letting grass grow longer, by planting
wildflowers, adding rocks or shoreline bushes, and turning pond
aerators off early in the fall to discourage over wintering.
Fencing
Fences made of string or chicken wire placed
one to two feet off the ground is an effective deterrent for ducks
and geese. Mylar tape attached to wooden slates placed three 3
inches apart is also effective. Make sure the slates are at least
twenty-five inches in height. If waterfowl has taken a liking to
your swimming pool leave the pool toys to float on the water as a
scare devises. Fences and scare devises are most effective if used
early in the spring before nesting season.
Chemical Repellents
For geese a commercial repellent called Rejex-it
is available. The product contains a biodegradable food ingredient
called methyl anthranilate. It makes vegetation
unpalatable for geese.
My Garden is Gone
Deer, rabbits, and woodchucks often see our
yards as tasty buffet lines. So what do you do? Start by playing
detective. When browsing, deer leave plants with ragged, torn ends,
while rabbits and woodchuck leave clean angular cuts.
Fencing
Fencing is the most effective solution. For
deer the fence must be at least six feet high with openings no
greater than four inches wide. For rabbits and woodchucks wire
supported by a post every six feet is sufficient. The fence should
be two feet high and be either buried under the soil six to eight
inches or be firmly staked to the ground.
Plants with a Punch
Incorporating plants into your garden,
particularly around the garden edge, that have evolved mechanisms to
deter browsing are also a good option. Black-eyed Susan, Daffodil,
Iris, Chives, Hyacinth, Sage, Thyme, Lavender, Maple, Juniper, Blue
Spruce and Holly are all good choices.
Repellents
There are a variety of home-made and commercial repellents such as
that are successful at preventing browsing. Rockland’s Hinder is
especially formulated for deer and is available at hardware stores
and nurseries. Repellents work by either giving off an offensive
odor or by making plants unpalatable. Use them when browsing first
appears.
Scare Devices
Visual deterrents such as lights on a timed
systems or Mylar tape strung on bushes and trees can be effective on
deterring all three species from tasting your plants. However, to
maintain their effectiveness combine them with other hazing
techniques.
Non-toxic Wildlife
Deterrent Spray
Some easy-to-prepare deterrent solutions that are safe for plants and animals
are effective for all kinds of wildlife:
1 whole Spanish onion
1 jalapeno pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
4 ounzes chopped garlic
2 qts water
Chop onion and jalepeno. Add cayenne and garlic; boil in water 20
minutes. Cool and strain through cheesecloth. Use
solution in garden sprayer on foundations, garden perimeters,
garages, and garbage cans. More than one application may be
necessary.
Another safe and easy way to deter deer and other wildlife is to soak strips of
sheeting or old rags in hot pepper solution and tying the soaked strips to
trees, shrubs, and bushes that wildlife find tasty.
To Trap or Not to Trap
Live trapping and relocating can be used to move an animal, however chances of
survival are not very good once the animal is relocated. Here is a few
pointers to keep in mind before deciding to trap and relocate an animal:
- Never relocate an animal during spring since they often have babies that are
dependant on them for survival.
- In the cold winter months relocated animals face harsh weather conditions and
scare resources. Survival of winter relocated animals is very low.
- Permission is needed by a landowner before an animal can be released on the land
even in the case of state, county, or national forest or park land.
- Traps should be checked a few times a day. Leaving an animal in a trap for
an extended period of time is inhumane.
Following some or all of these suggestions can offer protection for our homes
and environs as well as for wildlife. We all need to work in a safe way to
“avoid encounters of the wildlife kind” and prevention is the key. Remember, we
are supposed to be smarter than they are!
Call the Wildlife In Need Center at (262) 965-3090 with any
questions or particular problems or check out
www.wildneighbors.org for
more helpful information. |
