Animal Damage Prevention Strategies Checklist

This page is a check list for the information contained in our other page Animal Damage Prevention Strategies. This page was originally published in the magazine entitled Massachusetts Wildlife.

"Because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

Food Reduction

because animals go where the food is.

• Place trash bins inside sheds, garages or other enclosed structures.

• Squirrel proof any and all bird feeders (yes it can be done: ask us how). Feed Birds Not Squirrels

• Don't use mixed bird seed for your feeder. Use a single seed for each feeder. This forces you to buy more feeders but it does reduce waste because birds go to the feeder they want to eat from rather than dumping unwanted food on the ground.

• Attach catch basins to reduce the amount of bird seed that can reach the ground.

• Don't throw food into an open compost pile.

• Don't feed or water pets outside or on porches with cat doors.

• Pick food from the garden as soon as it is ripe. Remember, animals like fresh, ripe fruit too.

Exclusion

because keeping them out of your house is easier than driving them out

• Install stainless steel chimney caps onto every chimney flue (ask us or your chimney sweep). Click on Chimney_capping

• Screen every attic vent with 1/4 inch galvanized hardware cloth so that it is positioned toward the exterior of the mosquito netting. This way the hardware cloth protects the mosquito netting from being damaged by clawing animals.

• Keep bushes and trees from overhanging the eaves at least 4 feet from the roof line. Animals will always climb a tree first to access your home before they will climb the downspouts or electrical wires.

• Cover all window wells that are deeper than 3 inches. This prevents skunks from falling in and becoming trapped. Click on Windowwells

• Barricade around the base of sheds and porches to prevent animals from digging underneath. See Skunk

• Electric fencing if legal in your area can be very helpful in deterring deer.

• If your house is vinyl sided make sure caps are installed at the base of the corner pieces.

• Screen dryer/bathroom exhaust vents. We now have a product available to install. Caution: use care in screening dryer vents. Failure to screen properly can result in lint clogging the vent causing the temperature gauge to burn out or causing a fire. Click to see a product for vent covers

Habitat Modification

because animals won't go where they can't find food or shelter.

• Keep property neat and tidy. Don't allow junk to pile up.

• Keep lawn neatly mowed around the house.

• Avoid building stone walls (habitat for chipmunks, snakes, woodchucks)

• Cut down seed producing trees. This is a drastic measure and we don't generally recommend cutting any tree down. However there are situations where it is necessary.

8/21/10