Keeping Wild Animals Out Of Your Home During Winter

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During winter, wild animals will often go to great lengths to seek shelter. As the winds pick up and temperatures drop, animals like skunks, raccoons, squirrels, mice, bats and other creatures go looking for warmth and safety. In most cases, these animals can end up in basements, attics and in the chimney. They can also decide to make their winter home under your deck or porch. If you are looking for ways to keep wildlife out of your home this winter, there are tips that can help. Apart from learning prevention tips, you will also find out how to get rid of unwanted visitors that have already taken up residence.

• Find the hidden entrances

One thing you need to know is that wildlife will often find spaces or entry points that may seem too small. Do not ignore holes, gaps and other spaces in the foundation that you consider to be too tiny. Look for all vulnerable spots in your home including entry points located high up on the building. Document all the spots as you plan for repairs and you can do this by taking photos. Look around pipes and cables for any openings. Check to see if the fascia boards or the trim is deteriorating. Inspect the attic vents for tears or holes in the screening and make sure that your chimney is capped. Remember that a mouse can gain entry through a hole that is less than half an inch!

• Look for signs of invasion

You need to find out if you have animals already resident in your home. If you suspect that an animal has taken up residence in your home, you need to be very careful how you proceed. You have to ensure that you do not end up trapping the animal inside your home. A trapped animal can cause havoc in your home as it attempts to get out. Whether it is a mother trying to get to its babies or the babies trying to get out, the animals can end up causing serious damage. If squirrels and other animals are not able to claw or chew their way out, they may end up dying and you have the decomposing odor to deal with.

• Keeping the animals out

After confirming that you do not have animals already in residence, you need to do what you can to keep them out. The first thing you should do is to seal all entry points and to do this you have to use the right materials. If you have an opening that is smaller than one or two inches, you can use caulking or copper mesh and expandable foam to plug it. Use materials that will prevent entry of the animals that can chew different materials. Metal mesh material will keep the animals out while ensuring that you make the space weather-tight. If you have a larger opening, use the original building materials, hardware cloth or metal flashing to repair the hole.

• Hiring a builder

Some repairs are easy to deal with but for some situations, you need to hire a professional. If you need to cap the chimney, it is usually best to hire a professional builder. Make sure that the person performing the task inspects the space first to make sure there are no animals hiding in the chimney. Using a flashlight, the builder can inspect the flue from the top to the bottom. It is important to use a sturdy good quality cap and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. It might be necessary to hire a professional to work on the porch or deck too. In some cases, it may be wiser to leave burrowing animals that are under the deck or porch until after winter.

• Hiring an animal control company

Sometimes, even after hiring a builder, he might inform you that there is no way he can evacuate existing wildlife found in nooks in your house. This is because he lacks the skills to do so. In such a situation, you should always count on a professional animal control company to help you remove the wildlife before letting the builder continue his work.

• Keep up with repairs

When you seal areas that animals use to access your property, you should make sure that you keep up with repairs. Periodically inspecting your home will help to ensure that the animals do not come back. You have to remember that the animals do not give up easily especially if they think they have found the perfect home. Performing your spring and fall cleanup should include looking for any signs of animal and pest intrusion. The inspection will not only help to keep animals out, it will also make the home weather-tight and keep your repair bill low.

Securing your home for winter will give you much needed peace of mind. The animals can know from the beginning that they need to look elsewhere for winter shelter. Remember also that besides winter, as the mating season approaches, the expectant animals may be looking at your home as a place where they can raise their young. The animals look for safe, warm and dry spaces and your home may be offering just that!

Tips To Prevent Unwanted Wildlife From Taking Over Your Campsite

When you decide to go camping, you are basically moving into animals’ territory. You are bound to run into the wildlife while staying in the wilderness and this contributes to the great outdoor experience! While it is true that you want to enjoy all the sights and sounds that come with the wilderness, it does not mean that you should allow the animals to take over your campsite. Unwanted wildlife can be destructive and scary and it can end up ruining your camping experience. Fortunately, there are tips that can help to prevent the unwanted guests along with the damage they bring with them.

Choosing the best camping location

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Before you decide to set up camp, you need to assess your surroundings. Look for tracks that indicate the presence of wildlife. If you notice tracks in or around the campsite where you want to set up, you need to evaluate if they were left by an animal that could be a threat. While deer track are not likely to be much of a problem, the same cannot be said of wolf or bear tracks. Signs of the dangerous animal’s presence could mean that they visit the campsite looking for food. If you are concerned that the animal may return, talk to the campground manager or park ranger or move to a different campsite!

Do not feed the wildlife

One of the biggest mistakes that first time campers make is that they feed the wildlife. You might think that it is harmless to feed the cute squirrel or chipmunk hanging around, but this might actually attract larger animals. Any food that is left behind by the smaller animals acts as bait to lure larger animals. Make sure that you clean up the area around your picnic table after every meal and remember that even the smell of food can attract the unwanted wildlife. Make sure that you obey signs that caution against feeding the wildlife!

Be careful about food scents

Any time you are out in the wilderness, you should remember that scents are more powerful than you might think. Make sure that you keep all food in airtight and animal proof containers. Remember that smells can get out even if the container does not leak. Wild animals have a very strong sense of smell and they can easily smell food in plastic bags and they often rip the bags to access the food. Bears and raccoons that hang around campsites are capable of opening plastic food containers and coolers. If you are not sure whether your containers are animal proof, leave them locked in your camper or truck.

Keep everything clean

Anyone will tell you that cleanliness is an important defense against animal and pest control. Keeping things clean will help to deter the unwanted wildlife. Clean up after meals and get rid of wrappers, drippings, food scraps and garbage that can attract hungry animals. Make sure that you put items away in the approved garbage cans that are located away from the campsite. Any items that you cannot dispose of right away should be placed in an airtight container and locked in the camper or vehicle trunk. Avoid throwing garbage into a campfire as it smells like food while burning. Clean the cooking equipment and surfaces that the food might have touched to eliminate any smell of food.

Be careful of other odors

It is important to know that animals are not just attracted to the smell of food; they will also want to follow unknown smells. Most perfumes, colognes and beauty products contain pheromones that are designed to be attractive. They attract not just humans but also different animals. The curiosity of the unknown smells, even those of soap and deodorant, can attract different animals to your campsite. To keep away unwanted nighttime visitors, avoid using strong scents while out in the wilderness and put away any clothing that might have the scents.

Dealing with curious animals

You need to know that most animals are simply curious and they are likely to wander into your campsite just to check things out! All your careful cleaning, packing and planning may not necessarily work to keep the animals away. New sounds and structures will draw the animal’s natural curiosity and as long as it does not enter your campsite, you should treat it with respect. Remember that in this case you are the invader. You can move to a more secure area and make sure you avoid sudden movements and loud noises that can scare the animal. Unless the animals pose danger to you, you should learn to enjoy their presence as much as possible.

When planning your camping trip, it helps to talk to a wildlife expert so that you can find out all you can about wildlife. You can get some additional tips about keeping the animals away from your campsite. You can purchase products like bear spray that will help to keep you safe. Remember that it is never a good idea to engage wildlife unless you have no choice.

Pond Predator Control – Keep Wildlife Out Of Your Water Features!

Adding a water feature to your property is one of the best ways to enhance your landscape. Everyone loves a lovely pond especially one with some beautiful fish. A fish pond can be a great addition to your property and it can be both aesthetically pleasing and valuable. Most people will agree that a water feature can have healing effects. Nothing deals with stress better than sitting outside watching fish swim in the pond. The sight and sound of the feature can be very soothing and it will soon become the focal point of you landscape. It is a good idea to talk to an expert about the type of fish that you should keep.

Unfortunately, you are not the only one who will appreciate this new addition. There are many predators that will think that they have discovered a convenient source of food. Anyone who has lost valuable fish to wildlife knows that keeping away the predators is mandatory. You have to pay attention to the animals that gain access to your property. Animal control will help to ensure that you enjoy your water feature. With some research, you can prevent wildlife from getting to your pond.

Know your local predators

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The first thing you need to know is the type of predators in your region. Knowing the wildlife present where you live will help you to understand what you should look out for. The truth is that there is likely to be more potential predators than you suspect. Whether you live in a rural or urban neighborhood, you will discover wildlife that tend to move to different areas due to changes in the available habitat. Changes in climate have also meant that wildlife show up in the most unexpected places.

Get help from a wildlife control company

You can find out all you need to know about local predators from your local animal control, or the local fish and game department. Find out if there is a pond association where you live as the members can offer valuable information. You can get advice on the types of wildlife that you need to watch for. Experts can also recommend safe techniques to protect yourself and your property. Having the contact of a good wildlife control company can prove to be very helpful.

Reduce access opportunity

You can reduce chances of predator plunder through proper pond design. Small ponds that have shallow areas are easily accessible and the fish become easy prey. However, most predators will avoid deep and large ponds that have room for the fish to hide or escape. Most animals will not venture into waters or ponds from where they do not have easy exit. Anything that will make their hunt difficult, such as steep sides, will discourage the animals. A depth of at least three to four feet is recommended for a Koi pond.

Choosing the location

Plan the pond location carefully when designing the landscape. Locating the pond where it is easy to observe from a window will discourage the animals. You can also use lighting to keep away the predators. Having light that illuminates the pond through a simple flip of the switch will deter predators that pose a threat to your fish. A pond that is located a great distance from the house and is hidden by bushes can offer a great opportunity for wildlife to get to the pond with ease.

How to deter predators

Controlling unwanted wildlife is always better than trying to eradicate them. There are several ways to keep your pond safe from the predators. Covering the pond with netting during the night can be an effective way to control most of the predators. Most of the animals are active during the night and the netting will help to keep them away. You can also use the cover during seasons when animals are most active like during spring and fall. Alarms can also work effectively to deter animals. There are small electronic devices that detect movement of animals within a protected area and they emit high-pitched sounds and flashing lights that send the animals fleeing. Motion sensors can help with nighttime control.

Installing a good fence

Fencing can work effectively to keep predators away from the pond. A fence can also work to prevent accidents. Children tend to be very curious when there is a pond in the neighborhood and you should talk to your neighbors and ask them to keep their unsupervised kids away from your property. Keep the yard gate locked, and post a caution sign. If you receive frequent visits from wildlife, it may be necessary to install electric fencing surrounding the pond.

When you decide to install a pond in your yard, talk to wildlife control experts to find out everything that you can about keeping away predators. You can find out about decoys that you can use and how to get rid of animal hiding places. Of course, you can also get help to get rid of already existing wildlife!