Place netting over your fruit trees and plastic jugs over garden plants, so the
birds cannot access them. Aluminum pie plates attached to posts by string are
effective at scaring birds away. You can also try mirrors, scarecrows, and bird
of prey decoys (such as owls or hawks).
If a rabbit or groundhog
is eating your garden
First determine that it is a rabbit doing damage. Some signs include plants that are cut cleanly
off, and pea-sized droppings in the area.
Fencing: Use chicken
wire that is at least two feet high, with support posts every seven feet, is
suitable. The fence should be buried a few inches below the ground so the
rabbits are not able to squeeze beneath it.
Plant covers: You can cover
your plants with milk jugs with the bottom cut out.
Repellents: Try a
diluted solution of hot sauce (one tablespoon of hot sauce in one gallon of
water) sprayed directly on the veggies, or a solution of equally diluted soap,
or garlic. It is crucial to use a correctly diluted solution to make sure the
animals are unharmed if they ingest any.
Scare devices: Motion-sensitive
lights, alarms, or sprinklers can be used to scare rabbits away. A homemade
scare device is to insert a pole into the ground near the garden, and attach pie
plates by a string to the post. When the wind blows this will create motion and
noise.
If woodpeckers are damaging your
property or yard
Many people have wood siding and encountered problems with woodpeckers, who peck
on the siding as a territorial noise display. Placing insulation under the
siding is the most effective way to stop the noise, which will then cause the
woodpeckers to stop doing it. They may also drill holes in siding in search of
insects, and the best way to prevent that is to keep insect numbers under
control. Usually the problem is only on one side of the house, and then it’s
possible to cover that section with netting. Attach the net to the roof several
inches from the wall, allowing it to hang down so the woodpecker cannot access
that area. Also, wind chimes can be placed near the problem section of your
house to scare away woodpeckers. As a preventative measure you should fill any
holes in the siding with caulking or wood plugs. Removing dead trees from your
property will also make the area less attractive to woodpeckers.
If a bird keeps tapping at your window
This type of behaviour usually occurs around nesting time. The bird sees its
reflection in the window and thinks it is an intruder. During this time, cover
your windows with curtains or blinds to stop the behaviour, or, if that doesn't
work, cover the outside of the window with a screen for about a week.
If ducks or geese keep nesting on your
property Habitat modification is the most effective strategy
for detering geese from living in a specific area.
Physical
barriers: A barrier of long grass that separates
grazing areas from a water source is successful, since waterfowl avoid walking
through tall grass because predators can hide in it. Other barriers are fences,
trees, hedges, and wildflowers. Turning areas of unused lawn into a meadow will
decrease the amount of grazing land available, therefore making the location
less attractive to them. Any barrier fencing must be installed before adults
begin nesting otherwise goslings will be trapped and may not survive.
Scare
devices: To deter birds from using an area as a nest
site, try using scare devices. Plastic flags or aluminum pie plates can be
attached with string to posts in some areas. Acoustical alarms or
motion-sensitive sprinklers can also be used to scare geese away from an area.
Scare tactics must be used as soon as you notice geese in the area. If you wait
too long they will begin nesting and be very resistant to leaving the area. The
best thing to do if you are faced with protective parents is to stay away from
the nest site and give the birds lots of space.
To prevent coyotes from
living on your property
Coyotes are adaptable and opportunistic, so the main way to avoid coyote conflicts
is to take steps so that they are not attracted to your home in the first
place.
Dispose of garbage in
secure containers that cannot be opened by wildlife
Do not leave garbage
or food waste outside in accessible areas
Use securely enclosed
compost bins and do not dispose of meat, dairy, or egg products in
compost
If you have fruit
trees, pick fruit as soon as it is ripe and remove any fallen fruit from the
ground
Consider installing
outdoor lights that are motion activated
Clear away bushes or
weeds close to your home where animals might seek cover
If you are worried about the safety of your
family from coyotes in the area
Never feed coyotes or
attempt to 'tame' them
If you encounter a
coyote leave the area calmly, do not make direct eye contact, turn your back or
run from a coyote
When coyotes are in
your yard make them feel unwelcome with loud noises or spraying them with a
hose
Teach children to
respect wildlife and keep their distance
Supervise your pets if
they go outside
Fence your property to
make it less accessible (a fence will need to be at least six feet high and
will need to extend a minimum of six inches underground to deter coyotes)
Spay or neuter your
dog (coyotes are attracted to, and will mate with, unspayed/unneutered domestic
dogs)
To protect your
farm or outdoor animals from coyotes
Keep farm animals in a
fenced areas at least 6’ high and 6” underground
Have a secure shelter
for animals overnight
Adopt a guard animal,
such as llamas or donkeys
Install scare devices near
animal housing areas, such as motion activated lights or alarms
Provide rabbits with a
wire-covered enclosure that includes fencing buried underground
Provide rabbits with
escape shelters with openings that are only large enough for them to get
through
Do not use chicken
wire on enclosures; this is easily destroyed by coyotes
If someone was sprayed by a skunk
Skunks give warning
signs before they spray, such as stamping their front feet, fluffing their fur,
and raising their tail. However, if you are unable to avoid being sprayed by a
skunk, there are several solutions that can be used to help the smell fade.
Diluted vinegar
solution
Tomato juice
Carbolic soap (safe to
use on skin and clothes)
Toothpaste
Commercial products
(shampoos for animals can be purchased at vet clinics)
If you or your dog got
sprayed in the eyes - immediately flush with cool water. Skunk spray in the
eyes is painful and irritating, but it will not cause blindness. If irritation
does not subside, seek medical advice.
If squirrels are
eating from your bird feeder
Special birdhouses can
be purchased that exclude squirrels and large birds from feeding. Bafflers can
also be purchased which prevent squirrels from climbing the pole to the feeder.
Place bird feeders about 8’ away from any tree branches so that squirrels can’t
leap onto the feeder.
If squirrels are eating
bulbs from your garden
Use plant covers, and blend bloodmeal into the soil around the bulbs
to deter squirrels from digging and eating the bulbs. A diluted solution of hot
sauce (one tablespoon hot sauce to one gallon water) misted on the soil and
bulbs is another effective deterrent (unless they like spicy food!)
Bird-feeding Conceptions Cleared up
Feeding birds
year-round is an enjoyable activity for many people. However, we may worry that this actually harm birds rather than
help them. The following myths are put to rest.
Feeding birds does
not prevent them from migrating.
Birds migrate in
response to factors such as length of daylight and weather, not to food
availability. In fact, birds need more food during long migrations, so your
feeder may be a welcome stop for more northern species you don't normally see.
Birds cannot become
dependent on feeders.
Most birds use many
sources of food and do not rely on just one. If your feeder happens to go
empty, most birds will find food elsewhere, which means food found naturally.
Loss of habitat due to human development does make it more difficult each year
for birds to find necessary food, particularly during the winter months, so
providing a ready source of seeds, fruits, and suet can help many birds.
Perches on feeders
are okay for birds.
Birds' are unlikely to
stick to metal perches in winter, because they don't have sweat glands in their
feet. Their legs and feet are made of mostly tough tendons that have little
blood flow during cold weather. Also, a feeder with perches allows many birds
to feed peacefully at the same time.
Uncooked rice cannot
swell inside a bird's stomach and kill it.
Rice is a grain that
many birds will eat, uncooked, in the wild; they have no trouble digesting it.
Many wedding parties choose to throw bird seed instead of rice, as birds will
be more attracted to the seed and eat it more quickly.
Handling Wildlife Issues