It is a common (if somewhat uncomfortable) occurrence in a homeowner's life to encounter an unwanted animal intruder in their back yard at some point in their life. Be it snakes, raccoons, rats, or anything in between, knowing how to keep these animals out of your yard and safely away from your family and pets is a good thing.
Below are some general tips on how to make your garden a pest free haven.
First, find out about your location
Different areas are naturally susceptible to different types of pests. It is important for any homeowner to do a little research and find out what type of intruder is most common in their area – is it an opossum? Or maybe a deadly pit viper? Once you know what to expect, you can also keep an eye out for early warning signs of intruders such as trails, feces, scaly skin, etc.
Contact a wildlife specialist
Finding a wildlife specialist near you is a great idea because you never know when you may be in an awkward situation. But it also goes beyond that. An experienced wildlife specialist can assess potential wildlife vulnerabilities and attractions in your yard, provide advice on how to protect your property from unwanted guests, and advise you on the most common pests in your area.
Make your garden as uninviting as possible
You already know that you need to cut the hedges and lawn back there, but this task can be especially important in that regard. Tall grass, piles of wood, thick bushes, etc. allow wild animals to hide and crawl around unnoticed. Pests are more likely to visit an unkempt property than a properly maintained one, as it makes a better and more hidden home.
Look for cracks and holes and fix them immediately
If you want to keep wildlife out of your yard, you need to regularly check your fence for holes and cracks for pests to enter. Oh, and when you're talking about fences, you may also want to invest in a snake fence (which is basically a piece of wire mesh attached to a regular fence) if snakes are frequent around you.
Don't leave eating outside
It goes without saying that these animals won't come around because they heard you were a good guy. No, they are usually looking for warmth, food, and mostly both. Because of this, exposed food is an immediate attraction to possums, raccoons, mice, rats, and more. And these creatures, in turn, are attractive food for snakes and larger, perhaps more dangerous, wildlife.
Another great way to keep your belongings safe from unwanted guests is to keep eating to a minimum. If you have fruit trees in your garden, make sure to collect all fallen fruit and don't leave them overnight. Also, don't leave pet food trays outside and make sure your trash cans have a tight lid.
