Some wild animals thrive in urban and suburban areas where food and shelter is often readily available. While some people may enjoy having wildlife around their property, others may not. Wild animals can damage lawns and decks, eat vegetable gardens and shrubs, and defecate on your property.
Preventing conflicts in your yard or garden
Yards and gardens are highly attractive to wildlife, especially when they offer an easily accessible food and shelter. Keeping wildlife out of your yard or garden will prevent property damage and potential conflicts with humans and pets. To protect your yard or garden from wildlife:
- Secure your yard with appropriate fencing.
- Eliminate potential den areas such as openings underneath deck, sheds, brush piles and rock piles.
- Pick all ripe fruit off trees, and remove vegetables and fallen fruit from the ground to avoid attracting animals.
- Place smooth steel wraps around tree trunks to prevent animals from climbing.
Handling conflicts in your yard or garden
Wild animals are resourceful and persistent when searching for food and shelter. Once an animal has entered your yard or garden and found what it is looking for, it will return as long as the food or shelter is available. To protect your yard or garden from animals:
- Conduct regular inspections to look for damage and potential den areas.
- Use environmentally friendly, non-toxic wildlife repellent on plants and flowers that are being damaged by animals.
- Install devices such as motion-sensitive lights, sprinklers, or aluminum pie plates to scare animals away.
- If necessary, enlist the help of a local animal or pest control company (see Animal Control or Pest Control Services in the Yellow Pages) or read Hiring a Wildlife Control Agent - Tips for Property Owners
Read more on how to handle conflicts with specific wild animals in your yard or garden.
