Animal infestations are one of the leading causes of property damage in the United States. From cracked foundation to shredded insulation, it’s clear that nuisance wildlife infestations can create significant problems for homeowners. Luckily, there are a few wildlife prevention tips you can try to keep your property safe.
Wildlife Prevention Tips for a Pest-Free Property
- Keep Your Property Clean.
The most common reason animals enter a property is to scavenge for food. Humans are messy creatures that, accidentally or not, will often leave food sources out that can attract hungry critters. The easiest vector for wildlife prevention is to keep an eye out for any non-secured food sources around your home, such as:
- Pet food left outside
- Uncovered trashcans
- Water sources like bird baths, ponds, and pools
- Budding gardens
- Uncleaned grills
- Fallen or rotting fruit and vegetables
- Build Barriers.
For keeping bigger critters off your property, fences are the way to go. However, it’s important to know what type of wildlife you’re dealing with before installing a costly enclosure. Burrowing animals need fences built at least a foot into the ground to prevent them from digging under, whereas larger mammals require taller fences they’ll be unable to jump over.
Vents often go neglected in conversations about wildlife prevention as many homeowners forget their home even has them. Any opening in a house, from the chimney to the gutters, can be an access point for invasive wildlife. They should each be secured with mesh grates or netting that will prevent animals from getting inside while allowing their functions to continue unimpeded.
- Deter Animals from Your Property.
One of the oldest wildlife prevention tips is to not feed any wild animals that approach your home. However, there are a few devices you can install around your property to keep nuisance critters from sniffing around your home in the first place.
Bright lights, be they motion-activated or manually triggered, can frighten wildlife away from your property before they have the chance to do any damage. Overwhelming scents are also a natural damper to any animal’s appetite. Specifically, peppermint oil and garlic can be used to ward off any curious critters that come to your yard.
- Hire Wildlife Prevention Experts
Not everyone is an animal expert and each infestation is different. Effective wildlife prevention is a complicated process that requires knowledge of the local ecosystem, specialized removal strategies and safety gear, and licensed wildlife removal training and certification.
Trust Your Local Wildlife Prevention Experts
The experienced wildlife prevention and removal technicians at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh can quickly and safely remove nuisance pests and other invasive wildlife from your Pennsylvania property and keep them from returning.
To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our fast and efficient wildlife prevention and removal services, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.