How many times have you spotted a squirrel or rabbit in your yard? These creatures can be fun to observe, but their presence isn’t always a good sign. In fact, it’s better to keep wildlife entirely at bay to avoid potential problems.
Take a look at why wildlife can be more dangerous than cute.
How Can Wildlife Be A Problem?
There are two main problems with wildlife that enter your yard or house. First, you’re going to deal with grass and plant damage. That destruction can find its way into your home as creatures enter. Second, you run the risk of becoming infected with diseases. As a result, it’s essential to avoid both concerns.
Grass And Plant Damage
Many times, critters find themselves where they shouldn’t be. It’s not easy for animals to navigate urban and suburban areas, because naturally, they don’t know how to live in such environments. That’s why they make beelines for whatever vegetation they can find.
Wildlife causes damage to grass and plants in different ways. These animals can burrow, dig and eat their way through the outdoor areas you work hard to maintain. Take squirrels as an example. They can even munch on wooden decks when they’re hungry.
Don’t underestimate their willingness to get into your yard during the winter, either. It might be cold, but they want to find a place to stay — and your house is nearby. If you see tracks in the snow, you should do a once-over of your home to ensure everything is tightly shut.
Transmission Of Diseases
Animals carry various diseases. It’s relatively simple for creatures like rats and raccoons to find their way into your house when you aren’t paying attention. A single scratch or bite can leave you extremely sick.
You might not think you’ll ever come into contact with wildlife. That’s probably true when you make an effort to keep your distance. Unfortunately, it’s easier than you think to expose yourself or your pets to diseases. Even letting animals make homes in your yard puts you at risk.
Tips And Tricks For Prevention
Fortunately, you can use special methods to prevent wildlife from entering your property. It’s a smart idea to actively try various approaches until you find one that works for you. These tips will help the animals, too. They certainly don’t want to be running around your walls.
Your home’s surroundings matter. If you live near a river or forest, it’s almost guaranteed that you’re going to see more wildlife than someone whose yard borders their neighbor’s house. Be sure to consider those circumstances as you figure out prevention tactics.
In any case, you can explore a few different tricks to keep wildlife in the wild:
- Keep your garbage can secure.
- Ensure there’s no extra moisture in your attic or basement.
- Build a fence around your yard.
- Install chimney caps.
- Store pet food in airtight containers.
- Trim your tree branches to eliminate potential routes for pests.
- Organize piles of wood.
- Replace old weather stripping.
If you discover an extensive issue, you should contact your local animal control agency. It can safely extract the animal from the premises. A pest control professional will be able to tackle issues indoors. It would be best if you leave these creatures to the experts.
Keep Wildlife In The Wild With These Ideas
If you want to keep your family and pets healthy, you should ensure wildlife stays out of your yard and home. These tactics will help your garden look beautiful, too. As a result, you keep everyone, including the animals, happy.
Author Bio
Jane is an environmental writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co where she covers sustainability and eco-friendly living.
