You probably see some form of wildlife every day—climbing trees, running across your yard, stealing from your bird feeder. Despite interacting with them so often, it’s important to remember that wild animals are just that: wild.
If threatened, concerned, or frightened, wild animals could pose a danger to you, your family, and your pets. Plus, if they make their way in or near your home, they can cause serious damage. Here are some of the dangers displaced wildlife may pose and how you can prevent these issues from happening.
When Does a Wild Animal Become a Pest?
1. When They Interact With Your Pets
Unfortunately, wild animal attacks on pets aren’t uncommon, even in suburban and urban areas. Coyotes, snakes, and raccoons may attack pets on walks or in their yards. Sometimes these animals seek to prey on a pet—however, more often they are attempting to establish dominance or steal some food. Pets will defend their territory, so they may interpret another animal’s encroachment as an act of aggression.
How to Keep Your Pet Safe From Wild Animals:
- Fences seem like the obvious solution, but they aren’t necessarily foolproof. Most animals can climb over or dig under fences. The best way to make a fence effective is to make sure animals can’t see through it.
- Don’t let your pet out for long periods of time without supervision, especially at night.
- Clean droppings out of your yard quickly and frequently.
- Train your dog to stay within your property’s boundaries and always keep your pet on a leash during walks.
2. When They Make Your Yard Their Home
Your pets aren’t the only ones affected by the presence of wild animals. Frightened or nesting animals may become aggressive to defend themselves, their young, or their food. Even worse, wild animals may have injuries or diseases like rabies, which could drive them to aggression. Even if an animal on your property appears docile, it shouldn’t be approached or interacted with.
How to Keep Wild Animals Out of Your Yard:
Dissuade animals from nesting on your property by:
- Restricting moisture access by installing proper home drainage and leveling yard terrain properly.
- Keep all garbage in sealed plastic bags and place them inside a secured dumpster.
- Clear lawn and yard clutter. Mow your grass frequently and trim hedges and brush.
3. When They Cause Property Damage
Animals can cause trouble for homes in many different ways. Bigger animals like badgers or moles can burrow down into the foundation or siding, compromising construction integrity. Smaller animals like squirrels or raccoons can chew through insulation, plastic, rubber, and even gas lines.
Animals may die in an enclosed space, such as a wall or utility pipe. The animal’s body could go undiscovered until it rots, creating a smell. If an animal dies in a plumbing pipe, there’s a chance it could generate a clog.
Seal entry points, like cracks and gaps, in your home. Pay particular attention to your basement. If you’re worried about your wires, cover them in a protective coating. If you need help removing an existing wildlife problem or preventing a future one from happening, contact the wildlife professionals at Varment Guard.
4. When They Cause Sanitation Problems
Wild animals are dirty. When they come onto your property, they bring that dirtiness with them. Wildlife may carry all kinds of diseases and bacteria. They produce a lot of fecal matter, which can have many other negative effects. When animals die and rot, they may attract other undesirable pests to your home. Dead animals in vents and pipes could also seriously affect your home’s air quality.
How to Avoid Unsanitary Wildlife Issues:
- Again, cleaning your yard and home frequently helps reduce animal musk, clutter, and food sources that attract animals to your home.
- You should also have your pipes and vents checked annually, especially if you’ve had problems with them in the past.
- It’s best to have regular appointments with a professional wildlife team. Varment Guard can help remove any existing issues and prevent a future infestation from happening.
Don’t Let Wildlife Become a Problem. Contact Varment Guard!
Wild animals are just trying to live their lives. However, when a wild animal ends up in the middle of a neighborhood, a yard, or inside a house, it’s because something has gone wrong. Quality animal control isn’t about punishing an innocent animal—it’s about fixing the problem. If you have a wildlife problem that needs solving, get in touch with Varment Guard right away.
