As human populations continue to grow and move into traditional wildlife habitat, human/wildlife contact is becoming more prevalent. This poses a danger to human life and property as wild animals such as birds, squirrels, opossums, skunks, raccoons, and bats can damage your home and expose you to infectious diseases.

Fortunately, keeping nuisance animals out of your house can be easier than getting rid of them after they have invaded your home. The key to wild animal control is blocking their potential points of access and removing their preferred sources of food, water, and shelter.

Here are some easy prevention tips to follow:

Eliminate openings
Close all openings under and into your home. Animals look for places to den and raise their young – don’t give them that opportunity. Make sure that uncapped chimneys, broken vents and other openings along rooflines are screened, covered or repaired as applicable.

Cover the trash
Keep trash inside until the morning of trash pick-up or place trash in an animal-proof container, such as a trashcan with latches on the lids.

Keep bird feeders out of reach
Make sure bird feeders are only accessible by birds. Squirrels, raccoons, opossums and even bears are drawn to birdseed. Homeowners should also place birdbaths where small animals cannot reach them. Birdbaths and fountains may attract wildlife to the property, especially in areas where water is scarce.

Clean up the yard
Clear overhanging tree limbs and branches, which may be providing wildlife access to structures. A good rule of thumb is to keep vegetation at least six to eight feet from the house. Do not leave brush, leaf piles or other debris in the yard, as these materials make the ideal harborage site for small animals. Also, make sure that firewood is stored at least 20 feet from the house and is on a rack off of the ground.

If you encounter nuisance wildlife on your property, it’s extremely important to contact a pest control professional instead of attempting to trap and remove the animal on your own. Amco Ranger’s pest control professionals know how to remove nuisance animals and keep them from coming back.