Nuisance wildlife can become a problem for homeowners at any time of the year, though never more so than during the cold winter months. The reason for this is that wild animals, much like anyone else, are looking for a warm, safe place to nest and live in, ideally one that is also near some food source.

 

So, as the cold winter approaches, it’s important that you take active steps to make your home as unattractive to nuisance wildlife as possible. And in this article, we aim to show you how you can do that. 

 

First off, what are nuisance wild animals?

 

When we say nuisance wildlife, we practically mean any type of wild animal that is nesting on your property, without your invitation. Usually, this includes rats, mice, raccoons, bats, squirrels, opossums, birds, and so on.

 

Of course, any wild animal that’s on your property without your desire for them to be there can qualify as a nuisance animal, but in the lines below we’ll focus mostly on the above mentioned animals.

 

What can you do to make your home unattractive to nuisance wildlife?

 

  1. Remove open food sources.

 

Keep in mind that nuisance wild animals are most likely flocking to your property because they’ve discovered an easy source of food and/or water. These usually include an open trash can, or one that is easily accessible, pet food bowls left out overnight, fallen fruit from trees, etc.

 

To deter wild animals from nesting on your property, you’ll probably want to investigate the scene, and figure out what food source is attracting them. For trash cans, we recommend taking them indoors, or investing in sealable bins that can’t topple over. For pet food bowls, we recommend taking them inside before you go to bed, as well as picking up any fallen fruit.

 

  1. Get a professional evaluation.

 

While some attraction points may be obvious, others will prove less so. This is why it might be a good idea to call up a local wildlife removal company, like Nuisance Wildlife Pros, to inspect the situation and advise you what to do next.

 

They can figure out what’s attracting unwanted wildlife in the first place, as well as come up with compelling preventive measures that will safeguard your home against nuisance pests.

 

  1. Read up on the animals most likely to bother you.

 

While some wild animals, like rats, are evenly spread across the country, others tend to be more abundant in certain areas. It’s a smart move to educate yourself on the animals most likely to pop up in your backyard, depending on the area of the United States you reside in.

 

You can also visit pestcontrolwildlife.com to learn more about nuisance wild animals.

 

  1. Set up a fence.

 

This should be the first step for you, yet many homeowners choose to keep their properties fence-free, and thus more prone to wildlife invasions. The great news about a fence is that it works to fend off a bunch of different animals, like raccoons, coyotes, foxes, and so on. Check out illinoisfence.com for the right selections of fence materials to keep safe from wild animals.

 

Ideally, you should also place some chicken wire mesh around your fence, so as to deter small animals like rats, or snakes from squeezing through.

 

  1. Repair your home regularly.

 

Remember that another big reason why wild animals are flocking to human properties is that they’ve identified a good way in. due to the elements, and to natural wear and tear, your home’s structure (e.g. roofing, walls, window panes, and so on), tends to become damaged as the years go by.

 

In time, this can manifest as holes or cracks large enough to permit the entry of a wild animal straight into your home. And nuisance animals are big on nesting, so it might just be enough to get them to pay you a visit.

 

  1. Invest in a pet.

Pets like cats and dogs can work wonders in keeping various nuisance wildlife at bay. Dogs are larger, and so tend to be more scary to animals like geese, squirrels, and rats, while cats may scare mice, birds, and even some snakes.

 

However, having a protective pet can be dicey, as some altercations can harm your pet. So rather than focusing on fighting them off, you should think about the pet’s presence deterring nuisance wildlife.