Raccoons, possums, mice, bats, and birds can be adorable and fun to watch, but some people just don’t understand the potential dangers these forms of wildlife can pose to their families and pets. An encounter with even a small, seemingly harmless wild animal that lands on your property can have dire consequences for you, your children, and your fancy dogs and cats.
Wild mammals and birds can damage your property, disturb trash receptacles, and establish nests in your yard, in your shed, or even in accessible areas of your home. Certain forms of wildlife carry fleas, lice, and ticks and can carry the threat of life-threatening diseases such as rabies.
Simple steps to protect your family and pets
Even if you live in an area where wildlife sightings are very common, it does not necessarily mean that there must be an imminent danger to your children, dogs, and cats. In fact, there are some very simple steps you can take to minimize the potential risk of an unwanted wildlife encounter:
Keep trash bins safely covered
Squirrels, rats, raccoons, opossums, and wild cats love to rummage through garbage that contains food scraps. By keeping trash in tightly tied bags and cans with secure lids, you eliminate a major source of attraction for wildlife.
Make sure your fence is in good condition
Fixing holes or replacing missing boards in the fence around your property keeps rabbits, raccoons, and many other mammals off your property. A safe boundary really minimizes the chances of a potentially dangerous encounter between a wild animal and your pets or children.
Don’t leave pets outside unsupervised
Even with a solid fence, some animals will still find their way into your yard. If your dogs are roaming for extended periods, they have a higher chance of encountering a wild animal that has arrived on your property. If the animal has a nest or food source nearby, it may become aggressive and seek protection rather than escape. This can result in serious injury to both your pet and the wild animal.
Keeping cats indoors
Cats are natural hunters and their fence does not necessarily deter them. If there is a bird or rabbit in a neighbor’s yard, they will probably chase it. A cat leaving the confines of your property has a much higher risk of injury from a wild animal attack, but other hazards (such as traffic, poison, or traps left by others for wild animals, etc.)
Ultrasonic pest protection
Ultrasonic pest repellants use high-frequency sound waves to drive away a variety of pests, rodents, and insects. For homeowners looking for a clutter-free, hands-free method of keeping unwanted pests out of their home, this can be a safe and effective solution.
Ultrasonic repellants are safe for humans and family pets (you cannot hear sounds, and neither can your pets, there are no poisons, and there is no danger of pets or children from trapping injuries of security). After the quick and easy initial setup, there is nothing to do other than allow the device to function by driving away unwanted pests.
In addition to the steps above, simply avoiding contact with wildlife is also an important factor in keeping pets and family members safe. Don’t leave food for wild animals, don’t intentionally get involved with them, and never encourage your pets to interact with wildlife.
Even those with the best intentions and those who have taken the proactive measures mentioned above can still find themselves in a position where a wild animal has entered their home or garage and poses a potential threat. In these cases, it is important that the situation is managed properly to minimize the risk.
It is never a good idea to try to poison a wild animal on your property. Poisonous baits have elements that attract wildlife (they look and smell like food), which can also attract your family pets.
Cornering a wild animal is also not advisable. Raccoons, possums, and birds can become very territorial, especially if they have a nest nearby. Cornering them can lead to an attack, which can result in serious injury to any person or pet in the area.
If a wild animal has taken up residence in your home, garage, or yard or poses a threat to your family, it makes sense to seek the help of a professional. A wildlife control expert can quickly analyze the wildlife threat on your property and take the best steps for removal in a way that ensures the safety of your family and pets and with minimal risk to the wild animal.
A trained wildlife control expert can also suggest the best methods to clean and disinfect the area after removal and help establish protective measures to minimize the chances of future unwanted encounters.