Making Life Uncomfortable for Nuisance Wildlife

Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from Pinto & Associates.

The term nuisance wildlife usually refers to larger animals that come in contact with people, everything from birds and squirrels to raccoons and bats. When you are confronted with a nuisance wildlife situation, one of your control options is simply to make the environment less attractive to the animals.

Like any other pest, nuisance wildlife look for food, water and shelter. If animals have become pests around a property, you can assume that they are finding at least one, and probably all three, of these needs on the property. If you can eliminate or change available food, water, or shelter, the site becomes less desirable for the pest animals. This approach to nuisance wildlife control is known as habitat modification in IPM programs and it can be used alone or as part of a more comprehensive animal control/removal program.

Simply trapping and removing animals without addressing why they were attracted to the site in the first place will not result in long-term control. You need to know the feeding and denning or nesting habits of the animal causing the problem so that you can track its movements on the property and determine what needs to be changed.

Some habitat modification involves simply convincing your customers to change their habits, such as making sure bird feeders are animal-proof and using garbage cans that keep raccoons and other wildlife out.

Some modifications are more labor intensive. For example, if bats are roosting behind shutters, you can put a block between the shutters and the siding so the shutters are held farther away from the wall. This increased space exposes the bats to more air and light and may convince them to move. 

Remove Non-natural Food Sources: 

If anyone at the site is purposely feeding the animals, get them to stop. If you customer is accidentally feeding the animals through poor habits, advise them on how to change.

• Use bird feeders that have a seed catch tray beneath and install them on sturdy, non-climbable poles or use a guard below the feeder. Clean up excess seed on the ground frequently.
• Animal-proof trash by using secure lids, attaching cans to a post, or keeping containers in protected locations.
• Don't leave trash out all night. Put garbage cans out right before they are to be collected in the morning.
• Enclose compost piles in a framed box of hardware cloth. Don't compost meats or cooked foods.
• Feed pets indoors. Any pet food left outdoors should be brought in overnight. Store pet food and bird seed in strong containers in protected areas. Remove pet feces daily (other animals do eat this).
• In the yard, clean up fruit and vegetables that end up on the ground. Rake up and remove nuts that fall from trees.
• Keep livestock feeding areas and grain storage areas as clean and secure as possible. Remove livestock droppings daily.
• Eliminate pools of standing water and empty containers holding rainwater.

Limit Shelter for Nuisance Wildlife:

• Remove brush piles, junk piles, and clutter. Keep wood piles and board piles away from the structure.
• Maintain a clear, clean border around the building by mowing close, trimming shrubs, and adding a gravel border next to the foundation.
• Trim or thin trees. Cut trees or limbs that touch the building or overhang the roof. Wrap guards around trees to keep animals from climbing them.
• Use exclusion procedures such as caulking, sealing, screening, and repairing openings to keep animals out of buildings. Protect or alter ledges that attract.

The authors are well-known industry consultants and co-owners of Pinto & Associates.