If you’re a homeowner in this country, an encounter with some unwanted pests on your property from time to time is pretty much a given. And the more prepared you are for it, the easier it will be for you to get through it when it happens. From rats to opossums, to armadillos and skunks, there are lots of different animals that love curling up on your property and making a home there, which you probably will be against.
In the lines below, you’ll find some easy and safe methods of prevention you can implement to guard your home against wildlife. But remember, if wildlife is continuously invading your home, it’s best to call the professionals like Wildlife X Team Memphis.
1. Clean up your yard.
Seriously, one of the best things you can do to protect your home from unwanted wildlife is to spruce up your backyard, trim your hedges on the regular, and mow your lawn. If you’re looking at a bigger yard that encompasses a lot of trees, then it might also be a good idea to trim down rogue branches every once in a while.
Why?
See, wildlife loves a messy yard, mainly because it can hide inside the tall grass unhindered, and if there’s fallen fruit to feast on, even better! What’s more, snakes and other critters often make a nest inside firewood piles. Everything from snakes to squirrels will be reluctant to scuttle across your neat yard because that increases its chance of being detected and potentially killed. So make yard work a priority.
2. Make leftovers a thing of the past.
It’s no secret that bothersome wildlife isn’t actually here to bother you. They’re just creatures in search of food and shelter, much like the rest of us. It’s for this reason that rats, raccoons, and opossums are all attracted to messy homes where leftovers are frequently left out in the open.
Open trash bins are practically an open invitation to these hungry munchers, but it’s not enough to simply seal your bins. You should also make sure you don’t leave food (both human and for pets) unattended for long periods of time on kitchen counters, floors, tables, and the like. It might be too good an opportunity to pass up. Rats are attracted to the smallest of food crumbs. Learn more about rat control and removal here.
Also, if you’re looking to avoid wildlife on your property, learn how to store smarter. Invest in containers with tight lids!
3. Regularly perform upkeep.
What’s the number one way unwanted critters enter your property? Through holes and cracks in your yard fence, foundation, and walls. Yes, some of the more determined ones are apt to chew or claw their way in if necessary, but a large majority of pests come in by chance. They simply encountered an open door (or in this case, an open hole) on their daily travels and figured why not.
So to minimize the risk of infestations on your property, simply take care to check the state of your walls regularly and fix up any cracks that may allow the entry of wildlife. Ideally, fix up the holes with steel wool, since that prevents animals from chewing or clawing through.
4. Don’t leave any part of the home uninhabited.
Remember that these are clever creatures we’re dealing with here. They’re less likely to enter a room that is intensely populated because once again, that threatens their survival. It’s for this reason that many animals make a home inside attics and basements since people tend to go there less. In order to discourage this, clean up your attic and basement at least once a season and try to go in there at least a couple of times a week, so as to signal to intruders that it’s populated.
5. Maybe invest in a sprinkler
Nowadays, there are many methods for preventing wildlife on your property that doesn’t require drastic measures. A good way to keep some animals away would be to install a water sprinkler, activated by motion since most of these animals are scared of water jets.
If you’ve had problems with wildlife in the past, try to set up the sprinkler in that same area, and also check for holes or possible attraction points. And remember, if you do run into an unwanted visitor on your property, just stay calm – the large majority won’t hurt you if you don’t try to hurt them!