Pet Safety
Unfortunately, wild animal attacks on pets are common, even in suburban and urban areas. Coyotes, snakes, raccoons, and cougars may attack pets on walks or in their yards. Sometimes, these animals seek to pray on a pet, but more often they’re attempting to establish dominance or just steal some food. Even pets will defend their territory, however, so they may interpret another animal’s encroachment as an act of aggression.
Fences seem like the obvious solution, but they’re not foolproof. Most animals can climb over or dig under most fences easily. 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 on walks.
Yard Safety
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. Animals tend to be unpredictable, especially when confronted by an unfamiliar situation in an unfamiliar environment. Even if an animal on your property appears docile, it shouldn’t be approached or interacted with.
Dissuade animals from nesting on your property by making it an unfavorable nesting ground. Restrict moisture access by installing proper home drainage and leveling yard terrain properly. Keep all garbage in sealed plastic bags inside the dumpster. Clear lawn and yard clutter. Mow your grass frequently and trim hedges and brush.
Property Damage
As if endangering your family and your pet wasn’t bad enough, wild animals might even come after your house! Animals can cause trouble for homes in all kinds of different ways. Bigger animals like badgers or moles can burrow down into the foundation or siding of the home, compromising construction integrity. Smaller animals like mice, rats, or raccoons can chew through insulation, plastic and rubber, or even gas lines.
Worst of all, animals may die in an enclosed space, such as a wall or utility pipe. That animal’s body could go undiscovered until it rots, creating a smell. If an animal dies in a plumbing pipe, there’s a chance its body will generate a clog. Seal cracks and gaps in your home, paying particular attention to the basements. If you’re worried about your wires, cover them in a protecting coating.
Sanitation Problems
Wild animals aren’t house broken--that’s part of what wild means. That means they’re dirty, and if they come onto your property, they’ll get it just as dirty. Wildlife may carry all kinds of diseases or bacteria. They produce a lot of fecal matter, too, which can have a lot of different negative effects. Besides just the smell, we mean--though that is a big negative effect.
When animals rot, they may attract undesirable pests to your home. Dead animals in vents and pipes could also seriously affect your home’s air quality. Cleaning your yard and home frequently will help reduce the animal musk, clutter, and food sources that attract wild 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.
Wild animals are just trying to live their lives, like everybody else. You’re at least as big a problem for them as they are for you. When a wild animal ends up smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood or inside a house, it’s because something has gone wrong. Good animal control isn’t about “punishing” an innocent animal; it’s about fixing what’s wrong.
You don’t have to spend time worried about wild animals, but you should remember to be aware of them. After all, we can’t really blame animals for their role in whatever goes wrong--they’re animals. If you have a wildlife problem you need solved, call Varment Guard today. We handle all kinds of pest and wildlife problems, from the little bugs to the very not-little beasts. Fix what’s wrong so you can get back outdoors today!
