How to manage pests (A guide to living more harmoniously with problem animals )

Many animals that we label pests actually have a lot of benefits. To find out more about their benefits check out A pest or not a pest. That being said you still don't want to share your living space with a pair of geese or a family of mice. Below are non-harmful ways to keep these "pest" animals at a good distance. Meaning you will still reap the benefits of having them in your yard but you won't have to wake up to them scurrying in the next room.

These tactics below work on multiple species, so by completing one you are protecting your home from many animals.

1. Seal off holes:

The biggest and maybe the hardest why to pest-proof your home is to find holes in the wall, foundation, doors, and then seal them off. A mouse can fit through any hole that is bigger than a quarter. That can be a big project if you own an old home, but if you have a pest problem sealing off all the holes will pay off in dividends. If you can't get all the little holes make sure you get the big ones, for example, ones made from the dirt under concrete being washed out, or holes in your porch. These are perfect denning sites for animals. It's not their fault if they choose your home for their denning site, they are just trying to find the best spot for their young.

2. Move your trashcans away from home:

Trash and food remnants attract animals, plain and simple. So if your trash is right outside your backdoor, it will lead animals straight to an easy way to get inside. So move it a couple of feet away from your house and away from the door. Along with that, change your garbage can to a metal can. They are chew proof and much harder for animals to get into.

3. Clean your clutter:

Need a reason to ask your husband to organize the garage? Here's one: cluttered areas create the perfect shelter and hiding spots for small animals. Clean it up and store stuff away and you will no longer be housing unwanted guests

4. Don't leave food out:

This seems like an easy one, and it is! Both inside your home and out. Don't leave your pet's food outside, this will attract lots of animals. Including coyotes who will try to protect the food that they think is rightfully theirs. So just save fluffy and yourself some trouble and bring their food inside. Also, cover the food inside your house whenever possible. Keeping food in airtight containers will not only eliminate mice and ants but it will also stay fresh longer.

5. Scary objects:

Often a foreign object will be enough to keep animals away. For example, small plastic flags often keep animals like geese and coyotes away.

6. Oral rabies baits:

If you do see some animals on your property but they are bothering you, you can scatter some oral rabies bait. These cause no harm to the animals and protects them from rabies which means they won't get confused and wander closer to humans AND if you were bit you would have a much lower chance of catching rabies.

Here are some tactics that are tailored to certain species

Mice

1. Pre-proof:

Trim branches near your home especially near attics as they can jump from the branches to your house.

2. Leave a bad smell:

Try soaking some cotton balls in peppermint. Not only will your place smell good but mice can't stand the smell.

3. Use tinfoil:

Use tinfoil where you see them the most. For some odd reason, mice are afraid of tinfoil. So if you know of a spot where mice seem to keep ending up, try laying down some tinfoil.

Skunks

1. Try kitty litter:

This is a mild repellant that will neither harm them nor your family.

Moths

1. More cedar:

Moths hate the smell of cedar so you can simply reproduce the smell easily with cedar oil, which smells a lot better than mothballs.

Geese

There are many ways to ways to deter geese including:

-Flashing lights

-Dogs

-Scarecrows

-Turn off the aerator in your pond (they are attracted to open water and the sound of it)

-Plants around the water to block the view of open water

-Sight/sound deterrent

-(And my favorite) A motion-activated sprinkler

Whatever you do, don't:

1 Unnecessarily kill an animal

2 Use predator pee- just ask yourself how did they get this? It might conjure a funny image but usually, it's quite inhumane and painful for the animals

3 Use hot sauces- they also can seriously hurt animals depending on their size and the type of sauce.

If we protect our homes and set up these precautions we may actually benefit from having these animals on our property. Perhaps they are only pests because the way we are trying to coexist doesn't work well. If we change our habits we may live on the same property without any problems. Dare I say you might even enjoy seeing a mouse scurry away in your backyard.

Photo by Silje Roseneng on Unsplash

Resources:

https://www.pondalgaesolutions.com/geeseaway.html

https://www.absolutebirdcontrol.com/blog/how-to-keep-geese-away-this-spring/

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/id/id174/id174.pdf

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-skunks

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/maps/sa_wildlife_services/ws-nonlethal-tools

https://dengarden.com/pest-control/5-Simple-Ways-to-get-rid-of-Mice-without-Killing-Them