Controlling Wildlife Around The House
Did you ever grow a garden, only to have the deer come by and eat your hard work up?
Or do you step outside to enjoy the fresh air, only to discover a nearby skunk wasn't happy about it?
Most of us enjoy wildlife, but certain species of wildlife, at certain times, can become a nuisance.
Is Winter Worse?
Wildlife damage can occur throughout the year, but the fall and winter months are times when food supplies and cover may become more limited for many wildlife species. When this happens, your home or landscape can provide an attractive alternative to fighting out the long, cold winter.
Of course, spring and summer growth provide lots of yummy foilage and plants.
You Can Do More Than You Think
You don't have to go Elmer Fudd on the damaging wildlife. Most often, you have more control over the problem than you think.
It might not be easy, and it might take a little time, but if you think through the problem and put forth some intelligent effort, you can often cut your losses.
Whitetail deer populations have increased in many urban environments to the point where they are becoming a nuisance by grazing on landscape plantings. One of them was introduced to my front bumper near Detroit, of all places. It was fine (the deer -- my bumper wasn't as lucky).
But there are other problematic animals out there. Raccoons, skunks, snakes, woodchucks and other rodents, such as moles, house mice, and tree squirrels can often cause problems.
But the birds don't get a free pass... starlings, pigeons, or sparrows can create a mess. And I've seen the work of many a woodpecker on houses I've inspected.
Next up: techniques to manage the local wildlife.
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