What Attracts Wildlife To Your Home?

One of the most popular hobbies during the Covid epidemic is birdwatching. During quarantine, looking for new songbirds daily broke the monotony of staying inside and also presented us with a challenge. For those trying to bring the birds closer, a well-stocked bird-feeder seemed like a no-brainer, and it worked. More than 2 million sightings were reported in a single, record-breaking day, including almost 6,500 different species.

What wasn’t reported, though, was how many uninvited critters were also partaking in the daily smorgasbord. Most of these animals prefer to feed at night, so the only signs you may see are droppings, tracks, dug-up grass, or the smell of urine. What you don’t see is where intruders like skunks, raccoons, and opossums are spending the daylight hours, and that may very well be in your attic and walls or under your porch and deck.

Before you go out and remove the bird buffet, there are ways to keep our avian friends happy while discouraging the pests. The key is to limit the amount of seed that reaches the ground. Make sure to use seed that attracts the specific species you want to attract and use no “mess seed” without hulls. It is also important to be careful not to spill seed while filling the feeder because that can attract mice and rats. Placing trays under the feeder can catch most seeds and makes it easy to clean up. For those pesky squirrels, hang the feeders where they can’t reach them. Squirrel baffles are recommended to prevent them from climbing up to and dropping down on the booty.

Unfortunately, bird feeders are not the only way we are unknowingly enticing nuisance animals to our property. As many of us who have felt the pain of a morning cleaning up garbage know, what a raccoon wants, a raccoon gets. Standard trash bins provide little protection, and even rudimentary locks may not keep the trash panda out. A 1908 study saw raccoons open 11 out of 13 complex locks. They were even able to crack the code when the locks were turned upside down and rearranged. Failing to use wildlife-proof garbage cans makes it easy for them, and the messy eaters they are, their strewn table scraps attract other pests like mice, rats, and opossums. It is suggested to store the cans in a secure spot and bring them to the curb for pickup in the morning, not the night before.

Our landscapes are a sense of pride for many of us, and may even make our neighbors jealous. However, when those same neighbors see the menagerie of creatures scavenging fallen fruit, you may not be the envy of the block anymore. Picking the ripe fruit before it falls and getting it off the ground as soon as possible is a great deterrent. Trying to get the lushest lawn may be attracting many animals from above ground and below.

When lawns are saturated because of overwatering, creatures like moles and gophers can dig new tunnels to get to their newfound water source. In the evenings, worms can make their way to the top layers and as a tasty snack for armadillos and skunks, they can attract those animals away from dryer areas. By reducing when, how many times, and how much you water, these annoyances may prefer to get food and drink elsewhere. Leaking sprinklers and irrigation systems can cause the same issues.

While no one wants a dead, brown lawn, and water is a must, other greenery should be maintained. Low-growing shrubs and tall grass provide the perfect cover for rats, squirrels, and mice, and where those creatures are, predators like snakes are sure to follow. Trees with overhanging branches provide an excellent gateway to your roof for rats, mice, raccoons, squirrels, and opossums. Once there, uncapped chimneys and open roof vents provide easy access to your home’s interior. Tree branches should be cut back routinely and kept away from the house, and regular pruning eliminates easy spots for nesting and makes it more difficult for the animals to get from tree to tree.

Woodpiles and debris make for great living conditions for rats, mice, and the ensuing snakes, and skunks and raccoons can even make dens in large piles of firewood. To take away the lure, firewood should be stacked as tightly as possible, off the ground, and away from human structures.

One of the most important things you can do is eliminate access to pet food and water and never feed wildlife on your property. Bowls should not be left out all day, and pets should be fed and watered inside as much as possible. If you are taking the necessary precautions and nuisance wildlife is causing a problem, contact 101 Gopher & Pest Control. We have been taking care of nuisance pests for over 20 years in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.