Wildlife Exclusion Tips For NY Homeowners

Damages Wildlife Can Cause

Coming face to face with wild animals on your property can happen any time of year, but when fall rolls around and the cold begins to settle in, this is when you are more likely to see animals moving in close to your nice warm home. If you would rather not be dealing with wildlife trying to get into your home, garage, or other buildings this fall, here are some wildlife exclusion tips to consider - as well as reasons you may want to consider them.

  • Wildlife can cause illnesses in humans or pets: Among the worst offenders are mice, rats, raccoons, and bats. When an animal crawls through nasty places, such as sewers, trash heaps, dumpsters and the like, they can pick up all sorts of disease-causing bacteria and filth. If they track this filth into your home, or if you or a pet encounters them on your property, you could be exposed and become sick. A few diseases that can be spread by wildlife are tularemia, salmonella, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, brucellosis, giardiasis, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, roundworm, and rabies.

  • Wildlife can be dangerous: Even without considering diseases, wild animals can be dangerous. It is never a good idea to feed wild animals, no matter how cute and friendly they may seem. And, don't ever approach an animal that is wounded. They may seem docile and helpless, but they can become vicious, quickly, and may bite or scratch. It is never a good idea to approach wildlife, but they are even more dangerous if they are protecting their young, if they feel cornered or threatened in any way, or if they have rabies.

  • Wildlife can carry many different parasites: Some of the parasites animals may carry into your home, or transfer to your pets outside, are mites, lice, fleas, ticks, and worms. And these parasites can also be vectors for diseases such as Lyme disease, which is carried by certain ticks.

  • Wildlife can damage property: Raccoons like to open trash cans and strew garbage all over the place. Rats and mice will chew holes in your walls and insulation and even wires, which can cause a fire. And several types of animals will dig your garden up, steal fruits and vegetables, and generally make a mess of things. And no one likes to have skunks lurking on their property.

Some Wildlife Exclusion Strategies To Consider

  • Examine the outside of your home, foundation, walls and roof area. Make sure there are no holes, gaps or cracks. Mice only need a hole the size of a dime to squeeze through, and larger animals can chew holes bigger to get inside.

  • Trim all bushes and branches well away from your home. Animals will use these as bridges to get to your walls or roof. Once on your house, they will search for ways in. Make sure to pay attention to areas around pipes, wires, air conditioning units and other items that pass through your walls. Seal up any holes you find using a caulking gun, boards or other materials. Or, have them professionally repaired.

  • Put wire mesh inside the downspouts of your gutters. This will prevent wildlife from crawling up through them and gaining access to your vulnerable roof areas. Be mindful of exterior pipes or latticework where animals can climb up.

  • Block off areas underneath your decks, porches, patios, garages, or other areas by using wire mesh or chicken wire. If animals cannot get up against your foundation, they will be less likely to find their way into your garage, basement, or crawl spaces.

  • Never leave food of any kind outside. Clean up after barbecues, campfires, or parties, and don't leave pet food outside. Pick up dropped fruit, and either remove bird feeders or place them well away from your home. Having any kind of food source around your home will definitely attract animals, not to mention bugs.

  • Make sure your yard if free of clutter where animals can hide. Removing toys, leaf piles, equipment, etc., will help deter animals from hanging around. If your yard is a wide open space where there is nowhere to hide, animals will be more likely to move on to another property.

  • Keep firewood or construction materials well away from your home and up off the ground. These are favorite hiding/nesting places for animals, especially rodents.

    Be sure to keep all trash either inside your garage or in tightly sealed garbage cans. If they don't seal properly, try using bungee cords to secure them.

Anytime you need help protecting your home, pets, and family from wildlife and the dangers and diseases they bring, don't hesitate to call us for help. Thomas Pest Services can remove and exclude wildlife from your New York property. No problem. Call or click today for details.

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