With the weather finally nice, and summer in full swing; many people trapped in their homes from the coronavirus are finding reprieve in the comfort of their own backyards. The problem is, many people share their backyard with unwanted critters; such as raccoons and squirrels. What can these pest animals do to ruin your backyard fun?
Dropping Food
Everyone loves a summer BBQ, but spilled food and drink can attract animals to come by after the party. Clean table surfaces and barbeques after the guests leave, and use a hose to spray down the deck or patio space. Clear away food crumbs and spilt drinks will help prevent pest animals from going into your backyard for the scraps.
Koi Ponds
Ponds for koi and other outdoor fish can be an excellent feature for your backyard; but can also be a source of food for a hungry animal. Raccoons especially like to go hunting in koi ponds. If you have a koi pond, be sure to protect your fish from predators with a mesh cover at night.
Garden
A healthy garden can easily be ruined by a rogue animal. Protect your garden by planting mint, garlic, and other herbs that naturally deter pest animals.
Pools
Pools can be a great place for summer fun; but wild animals like them too. It is not uncommon for a squirrel or raccoon to take a dip, especially at night. Raccoons like to use pools as toilets; which can become a volatile health and safety issue. raccoon feces can sometimes contain the eggs of the parasite Baylisascaris procyonis, which can infect humans and cause severe neurologic illness. Children are more susceptible to this parasite. For more on this, visit our article on raccoon latrines, here.
Garbage Cans
The garbage can be a source of food for many animals, such as skunks, raccoons, and opossums. When cleaning up your backyard, or throwing out the trash from inside, store garbage bags in animal-proof pails. Additionally, you can also secure bins to the side of your house, or a fence, to prevent animals from knocking them down.