Ways To Deal With Unwanted Critters
Many people enjoy watching birds, squirrels, rabbits, and other animals that wander into their yard. However, there is a good chance that some or all of the wildlife in your yard can become a little too at home and start to wreak havoc on your property. Animals can quickly destroy a garden that you worked hard to grow, eat all of your beautiful landscaping, and even damage and uproot your irrigation system. This damage only leads to frustration and added costs. We wanted to share some tips to help you protect your property, and sanity, from these pesky critters.
Determine What Wildlife is in Your Yard
It can be difficult to determine which critters may be in your yard because many animals look to avoid human interaction. Inspect the ground for footprints, holes, and burrows. Pay attention to the outdoors during the early morning hours. If you have outdoor cameras, check to see if anything is set off during the night. Some common animals you may have in your yard might include:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Racoons
- Armadillos
- Squirrels
- Snakes
- Rodents such as moles, chipmunks, and mice
Put Preventative Measures in Place
Once you know what animals frequent your yard you can put precautions in place to ensure that they visit another yard in the future. We recommend:
Move all Bird Feeders and Bird Baths
Although you may enjoy watching the birds come to your yard, you are providing a food and water source to many other animals. Be sure that these items are not near your house, and if you want them displayed, place them towards the back of the property.
Use Natural Repellants
Coffee grounds, moth balls, and other flowers and plants such as marigolds can help keep unwanted critters away. There are also a number of different animal urines that can be sprayed on the property and used as a deterrent as well.
Install Proper Fencing
While certain animals, such as deer, are not deterred by fencing, other small animals can be kept out of unwanted areas with proper fencing in place. Be sure that any fencing is buried under the ground and is also secured properly with a proper latch.
If you have any irrigation issues or concerns due to unwanted critters, be sure to give us a call. At Challenger Irrigation, we are happy to serve Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, and Citrus counties.
