For wild animals, rummaging through local trashcans is a no-brainer. But for homeowners, finding ways to keep them out is a bit of a head-scratcher. While searching through your garbage, critters like raccoons and opossums are simply looking for their next meal or nights’ sleep. However, they tend to bring everything from disease to full-fledged danger along with them. When you’re ready to finally put the lid on your wildlife problem, check out these promising pest hacks.
3 Dangers of a Wildlife Trash Infestation
A lot of the time, wild critters like raccoons harmlessly venture into the trash for protection or food — but they rarely leave your property untouched. If your trashcans are harboring wild animals, expect to come face to face with a number of risks, including:
- Bite or scratch – Frightened or nesting animals may become aggressive and defend themselves, their young, or their food.
- Disease – Unlike your pets, wild animals aren’t vaccinated or protected from harmful, easily transmittable diseases like rabies, tularemia, and leptospirosis.
- Damage – Animals can chew holes and widen cracks in your trashcans. From there, they can spread garbage throughout your yard and attract even more wildlife to the area.
3 Steps for Deterring Wildlife Infestations
The following tips may help keep critters away from your trash in the first place.
- Selecting the right can – The first step to securing your trash is choosing a proper garbage can that will effectively deter any unwanted attention. Preferably, purchase a durable bin with a secure lid that locks in place.
- Masking the scent – Plenty of wild animals have a stronger nose than humans, which means they can smell trash even when you can’t. Therefore, you’ve got to disguise your garbage odor by making sure there are no holes, cracks, or openings for any smell to escape.
- Catching them in the act – Several animals successfully invade trashcans under the cover of nighttime darkness. If encountered by bright lights, however, these critters would quickly run in the other direction. To safely send animals away, consider installing motion-detecting lighting or relocating your trashcans to an area on your property with better lighting.
Finding the Right Wildlife Partner
Are you ready to take control of your wildlife issue? Call the team of licensed technicians at Critter Control of Orlando®. We’ll inspect your home to uncover any unwanted animals that made their way inside. Then, we’ll safely exclude the critters and repair the opening they used for entry. After securing your property, we’ll equip you with the tools and tips to keep them from coming back.
