Widlife Info.

Control Wildlife Damage Around the Home With Common Sense Control Methods

Whether you are a home gardener, enjoy landscaping around your home or just own your own home, there are times when certain species of wildlife can become a nuisance or a pest and cause damage to plants and even economic losses. Wildlife damage problems can occur throughout the year, but the fall and winter months are times when food supplies and cover may become more limited for many wildlife species, causing them to find your home or landscape an attractive place to call home. Solving wildlife damage problems may seem out of your control - but most often, you have more control over the problem than you think. It might not be easy - but if you think through the problem and put forth some effort - you can often cut your losses and maybe even eliminate them.

Many different species of wildlife can become a nuisance and cause problems under certain conditions. Raccoons, skunks, snakes, woodchucks and other rodents such as moles, house mice, and tree squirrels can often cause problems. In addition, whitetail deer populations have increased to the point in many urban environments where they are becoming a nuisance by browsing on landscape plantings. Other problem wildlife can include starlings, pigeons, sparrows, or the nuisance woodpecker damaging the wood siding on your home, just to name a few.

Think Through the Problem

People experiencing a problem caused by critters usually want an easy, quick solution and often ask "Is there something I can spray to get rid of this pest?" It is never quite that easy. Preventing and controlling wildlife damage requires a thought process and often includes using integrated pest management techniques. A successful wildlife damage program often makes use of a combination of control options and usually begins with an accurate assessment of the damage and identification of the desired outcome. Wildlife damage management is the opposite of managing property to attract wildlife. To manage for wildlife, you must make sure that animals have sufficient food, water, and cover throughout the year. If you have unwanted animals around your home, it is a sure bet that there is food, water and cover in the area. The solution is to remove at least one of these elements - and if you can remove two, it’s even better.

Try this sequence in thinking through a wildlife damage problem:
Identify the wildlife species causing the problem. This is the most important step. Correctly identifying the species of wildlife causing damage may seem simple, but it can be challenging under certain circumstances. Learn about the life history and habitat requirements for the wildlife species that may be a potential problem in your area.
Are there cultural techniques which you could use to modify the habitat and reduce the chances of having a wild life damage problem? For instance, there may be certain plants which could be used in your home landscape that might not be an attractive food source for deer. Would more frequent mowing or herbicide use reduce the amount of weedy cover needed for a build up of rodent populations?
Is there some way you can keep the animal causing damage from getting into the site?
If you can’t build them out, can you repel them from the area? Sometimes you can use chemical, home-made, visual or sound repellents to solve and control a problem.
If you can’t put up an effective barrier or repel the animals from the problem site, the last step may involve removing from the area the animals that are causing the damage. It may be necessary to trap, shoot, use gas cartridges in dens, or use poison baits to control a wildlife damage problem. Of course, when considering these alternatives for controlling most wildlife species you should check with a Conservation Agent or local animal damage control agent to get approval. Often these persons will also provide some assistance.
Remember that no entire species of wild animal is a nuisance or pest all the time. The trick is to deal only with the animal(s) causing damage, not try to eradicate the entire population.
A final consideration: Is it worth the effort? It takes quite a bit of time and money to solve and control a wildlife damage problem. Can you tolerate some damage or losses caused by wildlife? Remember the aesthetic benefits derived from viewing wildlife and the importance of managing habitats for those wildlife species you wish to attract to your property. Ask yourself if the economic loss is greater than the control cost. If it is, then it is worthwhile to develop and implement a wildlife damage control program.
Living With Wildlife

Wild animals contribute to our enjoyment of nature and outdoor recreation, but they can also damage property, agriculture, and natural resources and threaten human health and safety. Equipped with the right information and tools, most homeowners can solve their own problems and learn to live with wildlife. For example, trimming trees and shrubbery are ways of changing a habitat to make it less attractive to unwanted flocks of birds or even snakes.

The following information may assist in keeping that curious raccoon out of the garbage can, that persistent rabbit or deer out of the garden, that goose or duck out of the backyard pool, that woodpecker off the siding, and that swooping bat out of the attic. Caution should always be taken to avoid overly aggressive animals.

Squirrels and Other Rodents

To keep these animals from becoming a permanent part of the family home and yard, screens, vents, and fan openings; keep doors and windows in good repair; tighten eaves; replace rotten boards; cap the chimney; trim overhanging trees; remove bird feeders or use squirrel-proof feeders; and remove acorns and other nuts from the yard. Chipmunks can be deterred by removing denning habitat, which includes logs, rock walls, and stones.

Woodchucks

These animals, also known as groundhogs, sometimes burrow near buildings, browse in gardens, and damage fruit trees and ornamental shrubs. Fencing can help reduce woodchuck damage. The lower edge of the fence should be buried at least 10 inches in the ground to prevent burrowing. The fence should be 3 to 4 feet high, with a surrounding electric hot-shot wire placed 4 to 5 inches off the ground.

Opossums and Skunks

Opossums and skunks become a problem to homeowners by raiding garbage cans and bird feeders; eating pet foods; and living under porches, low decks, open sheds, and any other areas that provide shelter. Skunks also dig holes in lawns, golf courses, and gardens. Both animals sometimes kill poultry and eat eggs. To keep opossums and skunks from denning under buildings, seal off all foundation openings with wire mesh, sheet metal, or concrete. Chicken coops can be protected by sealing all ground-level openings into the buildings and by closing the doors at night. Foraging in garbage cans may be eliminated by providing tight?-fitting lids and straps.