This article was first published in the print version of the official newsletter of the Hudson Valley Chapter Community Association Institute.
My husband and I enjoy watching wildlife and after 17 years of living in New York City, we decided to head to the country. We desired to trade in the sounds of honking horns, garbage trucks and police sirens for robins chirping, woodpeckers foraging and coyotes howling. I love hearing the click/clucking of the deer crossing over my driveway as the sun is rising. And there is nothing better than waking up with our son to watch the tail hawk hunting in out pounds. That being said, I have no desire to reside with them in my home. Wildlife is beautiful to appreciate from afar, but they raise a host of issues from a personal health perspective and if you are a commercial property owner or manager, they are a liability.
As a property owner and Co-Owner of Wildlife Busters, we have made it our business and passion to assist others with human/wildlife encounters. Whether it is providing information and consultation on how to prevent wildlife encounters or permanently resolving a human/wildlife conflict circumstance in a professional humane manner. There are many steps you can take as a property owner or manager to reduce the likelihood of encountering a human/wildlife conflict. First, always remember that wildlife has the purest intentions. Their entire life revolves around three main objectives, food, shelter and looking for a mate to pro-create. Therefore, the more difficult you make it for them to obtain their objectives on your property; the less likely you are encounter wildlife.
Some simple tips include:
- Don’t leave pet food or their food bowls outside.
- Put trash out in the morning.
- Wildlife proof your garbage cans (basically make you they are tightly sealed – use bungee cords etc.).
- Close garage doors at night.
- Trim trees 10 feet away from your commercial or residential structure.
- Remove brush piles and debris, keep areas well-trimmed.
- Treat your lawn for grubs (grubs are a source of food for numerous wildlife).
There are also many modifications you may make to your physical structures to reduce the likelihood of a wildlife encounter. These would include:
- Erecting rat walls around gardens, decks sheds and barns ─ creating gravel barriers around larger foundations.
- Seal openings at the joints of siding, overhanging eaves and where pipes and utility lines enter the home.
- Replace attic vents with metal designs securely attached to the building.
- Install chimney caps.
Wildlife Busters is a full service wildlife management company servicing both commercial and residential property owners throughout Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess and Orange County in New York State. We pride ourselves in providing professional, humane and effective solutions to human wildlife conflicts. Wildlife Busters provides warranties on all services combined with long-term prevention plan contracts. Please visit our website for more information. If you are experiencing an issue and would like to consult with a wildlife technician about our animal trapping and removal, wildlife exclusion, decontamination and sanitization on our prevention services, please contact us at our toll free number 855-945-1212
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