|
 
1. Remove food sources. Pick up leftover
dog and cat food at night and keep bird feeders out of their reach (or bring
them in at night). Don’t let spilled food accumulate on the ground.
2. Prevent access to chimneys with a
commercial cap made of sheet metal and heavy screen over the top of the
chimney. Repair soffits to prevent access to attics and install strong, metal
vent covers. Keep dampers closed when not in use, but consult a knowledgeable
source to prevent a fire hazard.
3. Prune tree limbs away from the roof
(10 feet away is best) or install a 3-foot wide band of sheet metal (6 feet
above the ground), around the trunks of trees which overhang your house. This
will reduce access to your roof by raccoons and squirrels.
4. Garbage cans should be made of heavy
metal and have lockable or tight-fitting lids to prevent access; otherwise,
keep them indoors as much as possible.
5. Install metal skirting (i.e. strong
hardware cloth) around the bottom of a deck to prevent a wild animal from
making a den underneath.
6. Provide shelter structures for fish in
ornamental ponds and water gardens; cover the pond during the night with
metal screening.
7. Cover window wells with grates,
bubbles or hardware cloth.
8. Seal up holes around and under home
foundations to help keep out mice, rats, insects and snakes. You can bury ¼
inch mesh hardware cloth 1-2 feet deep in places where animals might gain
access to your crawl space through digging.
9. Fence gardens and cover fruit trees
and berry bushes with netting, or use an approved non-toxic repellent spray.
10. Repair broken, weak, or rotted areas
on the roof, soffit, and fascia of your house.
11. Mark large windows with strips of
white tape or raptor (hawk) silhouettes to avert birds from flying into the
window
|