While you should be taking measures for nuisance wildlife prevention all year round, now, at the onset of winter, is the time to inspect your home for winter entry points.  Animals want to get in out of the cold, mate, and create nests, so it’s vitally important that you do what you can to prevent them from moving into places where they’re not welcome.  Prevention is always easier than getting rid of them after the fact.

Why it’s important to focus on nuisance wildlife prevention

When unwanted wildlife moves in, they can cause a lot of damage and spread disease.  Raccoons are notorious for gnawing holes in your shingles to gain access to your roof.  Squirrels in the attic can be a fire hazard if they decide to start munching on your household wiring.  Mice droppings can spread diseases that can make you and your family very sick.   Add to that the unsightly look of chewed up rooftops or siding, the dangers of walking over a deck with damaged and weakened wood caused by wildlife recklessly munching on it, not to mention the potentially high repair costs, and you can see how important it is to prevent all that in the first place.

2 simple tips for preventing unwanted wildlife from making your home into their own

Here are two simple ways that you can deter undesirable wildlife from making themselves at home on your property.

  1. Control animal food sources.

Squirrels, for example, are commonly attracted to bird feeders, so if you like feeding the birds throughout the winter, be sure to take steps to squirrel-proof the feeders.  If you’re planning to plant new trees on your property, consider avoiding the ones that produce nuts or seeds that are attractive to animals you’d rather not see lurking about.  The less food to be found on your property, the less likely they are to make it a habit of living there.

Raccoons love to pick through your food scraps from the kitchen, so take care when throwing them in the trash to make sure these clever creatures can’t get to them.  Use trash bins with lids that fit tightly and securely.  Consider taking it one step further and storing your trash bins in the garage – not only would the raccoons have to figure out how to dislodge the lids, they’d have to figure out how to break into your garage too – the harder you make it for them to do this, the better!

  1. Stay on top of exterior home repairs.

If you find cracks or holes in your siding, soffits, or elsewhere on your home, garage, or shed, this isn’t the time to save money by putting off repairs.  Animals love to find a cozy, warm place to hole up in over the winter and beyond.  Don’t let your home or property be the easiest (and therefore most attractive) one on the block to move into.

Be sure to add nuisance wildlife prevention to your winter-prep list

You’ve worked hard to create a home for yourself and your family, so don’t let unwanted wildlife damage your efforts, or worse, make you and your family sick by spreading disease.  Do a thorough inspection of your property, taking note of all things you can do to prevent these animals from causing damage, and minimizing food sources that will attract them.  If you’re unsure of what to do, consult a wildlife removal expert – they’ll be able to guide you on what steps you ought to take to make your home and property as unattractive as possible to unwanted wildlife.  And after that, enjoy your home and stay warm this winter!

We offer all kinds of tips for protecting your home or property, so read on in our wildlife and pest control blog.

If you’re in Burlington, Oakville or anywhere in the Halton-Hamilton Regions and wildlife or pests have entered your home or property, contact us today for fast help!