One of the best things about Lake County is its natural beauty. Rolling hills, forests, and dozens of lakes and ponds dot the landscape, attracting many residents who love the outdoors. But, being out in a less developed area also has its drawbacks, namely, frequent interactions with wild animals in and around your home. To keep Lake County animals like raccoons, rats, squirrels, armadillos, and skunks from invading your home or destroying your property, make sure to give them no reason to hang around your house. Avoid the following list of common things that can attract these wild animals to your yard.
1. Overgrown Lawns and Shrubbery
Wild animals may see an untended yard as a potential shelter or a new location to explore for food. Luckily, this issue is easy to fix by simply mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes, and removing weeds. This way, animals will realize there is nowhere to hide on the property and will move on in search of better shelter. During the fall and winter months, you shouldn’t need to tend to your yard more than once a month. But, ramp up your efforts to once a week in the spring and summer to keep critters away.
2. Accessible Garbage Cans
When a garbage can is left open, overflowing, or overturned, wild animals see this as an open invitation for a free buffet. Ensure that garbage can lids are always tightly sealed and that you dispose of your garbage weekly. It’s also important to wash (or at least spray down) your outdoor garbage can periodically so that animals aren’t drawn to the garbage scent.
3. Neglected Bird Feeders
It’s such a joy to have friendly birds visit your yard, but all too often your bird feeder attracts pests like rats, squirrels, and raccoons rather than cardinals and blue jays. To make sure your bird feeder is only attracting birds, take the following steps:
- Buy specialty bird feeders that keep rodents away, such as screened-in bird feeders
- Purchase rodent repellent seeds, such as thistle, sunflower seeds, and safflower
- Drizzle rodent repellent seasoning on your bird feed, such as cayenne pepper
- Prevent rodents from gaining access by attaching your bird feeder to a pole at least six feet off the ground and at least 10 feet away from any nearby branches or structures of your home
- Clean your bird feeder with chlorine/bleach-water at least biweekly
Lake County Wildlife Removal Experts
If you’ve taken preventative measures but are still experiencing issues with nuisance animals in your yard, contact our experts at Critter Control® of Lake County. We will help you get to the root of the problem, remove the wild animal, and give you tips on how to prevent them from coming back.
