Wild Animal Conflicts

The most common wildlife conflict that people have is when a wild animal uses a human structure for their den. Most species have multiple den sites in case their current den is compromised. Mom wants to keep her babies safe. Allowing her to move them to another nest site is the best option for everyone. Please give her at least one week to get all of her babies moved. The following tips work well for most species of wildlife.

Illuminate the den. The reason that the mother has chosen this spot is because it is dark and feels secure. If you shine a flood light or bright light inside of the den it will make her feel that her babies are exposed and she will want to move them to another nest.

Play loud talk radio around the den. Mom wants somewhere quiet and secluded to raise her babies. This should hopefully convince her to vacate.

Place bleach-soaked rags near the den entrance (not blocking the entrance). All animals are irritated by the smell and will not want to keep their young near this chemical.

Remove easy food sources. Hungry, nursing mothers need extra calories and will choose easy food options. If you are feeding outdoor cats remove the food dishes. If you are filling bird feeders make sure that you are cleaning up seed that falls on the ground every day and bringing your feeders inside at night. If you are throwing out compost make sure that you are putting it in a sealable container or stop putting it out temporarily. If the animal is getting into your garbage put a lock on the lid. The mother will look elsewhere for food.

Prevention! The best thing you can do is prevent an animal from creating a nest in an unwanted space by making it inaccessible. If this was a good nest spot this year another animal will likely try to use it next year.

Raccoons

Raccoons will have several den sites established within a 3-mile radius. Mom can only move one baby at a time. It takes time to walk up to 6 miles carrying a baby. You must allow her time to move her kits. She can only move one at a time. For more information on raccoons click here.

Eastern Cottontails

Cottontails must stay in their nest. Thankfully, they grow very quickly and will be weaned within 3 weeks. For more information on cottontails click here.

Foxes, coyotes, raccoons, raptors, bobcats, otters, weasels and other predators will take farm birds and rabbits if they have the option. Killing or live trapping and relocating these animals will not solve your problem. If one predator got in, then another will find a way in too. Animals should generally not be live trapped and relocated. The only way to keep predators from killing your animals is to predator-proof your enclosure. 1/4” hardware cloth around outdoor enclosures (sides, top and floor) works very well. You should also have a door that has a latch and/or lock on it that the predator cannot open. We suggest placing a trail camera or a motion detecting camera near your enclosure to see which predator you are dealing with. Here are some additional tips that may help deter predators:

Secure your animals. Make sure that your animals are secured in an enclosure, especially during the night. If they are free-roaming there is no way to protect them from all of the wild predators they will encounter.

Automatic lights. Predators need to sneak up on their prey and want to stay hidden. If a bright light turns on it may scare them away. They may get used to this after a while.

Automatic sprinklers. Place automatic sprinklers near entrances so that they will hit the animal if it tries to enter your enclosure.

Playing talk radio at night. Human voices may scare them too much to come near the coop. They may figure out that the “humans” aren’t a threat after a while though.

Hot sauce. If there is a particular spot that the predator is chewing on to get into the enclosure smear hot sauce on it.

Predator urine. You can rub predator urine around your enclosure. This may deter other predators. Be aware that this may stress out your animals so make sure to do your research to ensure that it won’t bother the species that you are trying to protect.

Fake owls. This will scare away other raptors and smaller mammals. Move the owl around every day or two so the predator doesn't get used to it.

Loud noises. If you happen to see the predator get some pans and bang them together very hard and scream at the animal.

Inflatable/Animatronic yard decorations. Place these near your enclosure after your animals go inside.

Our squirrel friends need to eat too, but we understand that they go through seed much more quickly than our feathered guests. Here are some tips that may help deter them.

Clean up seeds that fall onto the ground.

Do not use platform feeders.

Attach slinkies to your poles.

Use bird feeder cones above and below the feeder to prevent access.

Use a bird food cage. Many of these contain holes that are large enough for squirrels to get into so make sure that the holes are 1 inch or smaller.

Feed the squirrels somewhere else so they aren’t interested in your bird feeder.

Sprinkle blood meal around the feeder.

What we do not recommend

Mixing a small amount of pepper into the bird seed. This may cause respiratory and ocular irritation to whichever mammal encounters it.

Putting greasy substances on the pole. This can be harmful to the animals that encounter it, including the birds. It can be toxic and ruin fur/feathers.

Live trapping and relocating/killing. Please do NOT do this. It is cruel.

Use squirrel repellent chemicals. These are toxic to squirrels and other wildlife.

The most effective way to protect your trees from being stripped or your garden from being scavenged by wildlife is to place 1/4” - 1/2” hardware cloth around them.

If you have a larger area that you need to keep them out of you can install an electric fence around the perimeter.

Foxglove, Madagascar Periwinkle, Mexican Oregano, Mint, Wormwood, Spearmint, Lemon Thyme, Rotunda Chinese Holly, Artemisias, and thorny bushes.

Mice do not belong in our space. They can carry diseases that make humans and pets very ill and are destructive. If you have a mouse issue these tips will help.

The only way to keep mice out of your space is to seal off whatever entrance point they are using to get inside.

Snap traps are the most humane way to get rid of mice. Just make sure that the only way they can access the trigger is directly from the front so the trap hits them in the correct area.

Encourage your natural rodent control. Most predators eat mice.

Install owl nest boxes. Research which owl would be best in your habitat.

If you have weasels around they are the most effective mouse predators. Don’t kill them. Once the mice are gone the weasels will leave.

Please do NOT use the following methods for rodent control

Glue traps. These are incredibly inhumane and are not species specific.

Poison. Again, these are not species specific and will also poison any animals that eat the mice.

Live trap and relocate/kill. Relocated animals generally die soon after release from starvation, lack of shelter, predation or same species overpopulation. You also don’t want to create a mouse infestation on someone else’s property. If you’re planning on killing them just be kind and buy some snap traps.

Mix together 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1-2 tsp of dish soap. Use immediately. Do not get into eyes or mouth. Massage onto area that was sprayed. Let sit for 5-10 minutes. Rinse. Repeat if necessary.

You can also usually find bottles of “Skunk Off” at your veterinarian or local stores.

Remove easy food sources that are attracting them. Take bird feeders down at night and clean up bird seed that has spilled on the ground. Do not leave food out for cats. Put your garbage inside at night or put locks on the lids. Do not throw food scraps in your yard.

You can also install motion lights, motion activated sprinklers and clang pans together loudly to scare them away.

If you have pigeons on your property and would like them to leave please read these tips:

1.) Clean up any seed/feed that is attracting the pigeons.

2.) Install pigeon spikes on flat areas that they frequently nest on. If there is currently a nest with babies please let the babies fledge before you install them.

3.) Put up fake owls around the areas they frequent. Move them around so they don’t get used to them.

4.) Close up any entrances they are using. Please make sure that there are no nests with babies or other pigeons locked inside first!