How to Evict Wildlife from Your Property
March through August is prime baby rearing months for mammals and assume the animal that is in or around your home is providing her babies with a safe nest. I get a lot of calls from upset home owners who have relocated an animal, not realizing that her babies were left behind. The problem with relocating wildlife is that they usually die a hard, slow death because they are competing for resources with already established wildlife and/or a relocated mom will die trying to get back to her babies. I especially see this with raccoons. I have answered many calls of homeowners realizing that a wildlife nest was left behind because they heard screaming in their walls.
To find the nest, a contractor has to knock holes (usually more than one) in their wall to find the babies. I guess some people may never call me and live through the wails and the smell of the dead babies. Here are some ways to encourage mammals to leave your property and re-establish a nest outside of your home. This is a win for you and the wildlife. Remember, you do not have a wildlife nuisance problem. You have a hole in your house problem (or chicken coop, or attractors in your barn, etc).
Being patient and waiting for the babies to grow big enough to move out of their den is the best for the wildlife. Once the mammal reaches a certain age, they will willingly move out on their own. This is usually within a month or two of being born.
Mammals do not like to be discovered. By shining flashlights, visiting the nest at a safe distance, making it clear that you know who they are and that they are not welcome, the animal will go and look for a safer place to raise her young.
Wildlife do not like loud, human noises. Playing NPR, loudly, or any talk radio will discourage them from staying.
Animals do not like the smell of vinegar or citrus smells. Try alternating these smells if the animal is in an area that is not well ventilated. You can also sprinkle ammonia on rags. Tie the rags into the size of a tennis ball, or put them in an empty margarine container with holes in the lid, and throw them close to the nest.
They also don’t care for lights. A motion activated light is ideal or a trouble light may also work.
Some animals are more likely to nest under a shed or porch (skunks, groundhogs).
Put some rocks down the hole. Not enough to trap them, but enough to bother them.
Make the hole larger so that the animal thinks a predator is after themkeep the area well mowed to prevent hiding spots
Hang pie plates around the hole to startle the animal. Not the best look, but the animals get embarrassed at the décor and head for more stylish homes.
Put used cat litter or ammonia-soaked rags down the hole. This also works to get teenagers out of their beds.
Put a crumpled piece of newspaper in the hole so you will know when the animal has moved out
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