Problems Wildlife Invaders Cause in Florida Homes

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Possum with young on back sitting in tree

Most of us enjoy watching the wildlife in our backyards. Who can ignore a raccoon trying to drink from our sprinkler or a squirrel teetering on the edge of our bird feeder as they feed? There are many ways these encounters can go. Most of them are hilarious. But animals don't have to be funny for us to take notice of them and enjoy their presence. When a brightly-colored bird lands on a branch right outside the window, what do we do? Most of us will stop and take a moment to watch it. When a squirrel decides it is going to sit just outside the kitchen window, what do we do? We watch. It's fun! But, it is not a good idea to get too comfortable with those animals living in your backyard because, when wildlife animals get into a home, they can cause some serious problems.

What Problems?

Wild animals won't treat your home like you do. When these animals find their way onto your roof, they will chew vent covers off, create holes in flimsy aluminum soffits, gnaw on exhaust pipe gaskets, damage your roofline, and more to get into your homes.

When they invade your attic spaces, they will leave their urine and feces all over the place. They will also rip up your insulation and damage other building materials in your home. They may even break your attic windows. Not to mention, they make a lot of noise while they're scurrying around up there!

Before wildlife pests get into your home, if they manage to get in at all, they can damage your yard. Armadillos, groundhogs, moles, and other critters can rip up your turfgrass and create unsightly holes in your yard. They can also damage the vegetables in your garden or chew on the plants in your landscaping.

When wildlife animals find their way onto your property, they can bring more problems than just damage to your lawn. As these animals explore your landscaping, crawl around in your turfgrass, or perch on your bird feeders, they can introduce ticks into your yard. These ticks can then be picked up by pets, children, and adults and brought into the house, which can lead to bigger problems.

Some animals, such as raccoons, can attack people and be quite harmful, especially if they feel cornered or threatened or are protecting their young. Worse still, raccoons and many other wildlife animals present a risk for rabies. If you have a sick raccoon wander into your yard, you may not even realize it. A raccoon infected with rabies may actually seem friendlier and more approachable than a healthy raccoon. This is because the rabies virus can make raccoons act contrary to their normal behavior pattern of avoiding humans. So it’s important to be cautious around these animals.

What To Do About Wildlife

While wildlife can be entertaining to have around, it is best to keep them out of our yards as much as possible. Here are a few tips to help protect your yard and home from wildlife:

  • Keep bird feeders away from your exterior walls to keep birds from carrying ticks close to your home or having an unwanted invasion of birds in your eaves or attic spaces,
  • Keep trash receptacles clean and sealed; this will keep the smells of garbage from attracting animals to your property.
  • Reduce conditions that promote standing water. This will reduce the locations where these invading animals can drink. When wildlife animals come into a yard, having a place to drink will give them a reason to stay.
  • Keep your lawn mowed and the overgrowth on your property trimmed back. Most wildlife feel more comfortable in an overgrown yard than they do in a well-maintained yard.
  • Identify food sources in your yard and remove or protect them. If they can be stored away, that is the best option. But in the case of gardens, fruit trees, and berry bushes, install fencing around them to keep animals from getting to them. Be sure to install the fencing at least a foot under the ground to keep burrowing animals out.
  • Remove lawn clutter. Many animals will use toys, lawn equipment, stacked construction materials, and other items in your yard as a hiding place or for harborage.

We understand that keeping wildlife away is not the right choice for everyone. And sometimes, even when homeowners take precautions to keep wild animals away, pest problems can still arise. Either way, if you're dealing with pests in your yard or in your home, we can help! At Keller's Pest Control, we manage rodents, wildlife, ticks, and other potentially harmful pests that threaten Jacksonville families and their homes. Our highly-trained service professionals use modern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods, green pest control, EPA-approved products, and the most advanced pest control methods in the industry to solve pest problems in the Greater Jacksonville area. Contact us today for quick, responsive, and effective wildlife control and other residential pest control solutions!

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