5 Handy Wildlife Prevention Tips For Houston Property Owners

Houston is a storied city with numerous attractions. Apart from the sweltering heat, it’s one of the most exciting places to live on Earth. That’s why us Houston residents wouldn’t change it for a thing. However, there are plenty of others, typically of the four-legged variety, who enjoy the homes and properties in Houston as well. While some wildlife sightings may be an enjoyable part of your day, having control of your home and property is the only way to keep what’s important to you safe.

Wildlife Woes

Before we find out how to prevent wildlife from threatening our peace of mind at home, let’s take a look at some of the common wildlife that Houston homeowners deal with:

Roof rats get their name from their ability to climb branches up to your rooftop and find their way into your attic through loose shingles or open vents. They’ll do a lot of damage to your stored items, electrical wiring, and insulation, along with spreading bacteria all-around your home.
Raccoons will invade your property to find easily accessible trash. While they mostly stay in the yard, raccoons who find their way into your attic may nest, putting everyone in the house at risk of a dangerous encounter with a territorial mother. Many raccoons can also transmit the rabies virus.
Squirrels are similar to roof rats in their ability to enter a home through the roof and do lots of damage with their large front teeth. They are often tolerated on many properties, but they can be very detrimental.
Bats carry rabies. These nocturnal flying creatures are blind and may fly into an open window by accident. Once inside your home, they are incredibly difficult to safely remove.
Snakes are not always poisonous, but, in Houston, you never know. Poisonous snakes in Houston include the copperhead, Texas coral snake, Western cottonmouth, and more. They’ll seek shelter from the heat under your lawn decorations or rock arrangements.

Even if it isn’t one of these common property invaders, wildlife near your house is never a safe situation. There are plenty of dangerous kinds of wildlife that will wander onto your Houston property, and even the common invaders like raccoons and roof rats can transmit dangerous diseases. Wildlife feces in the yard can often be toxic or draw other, more dangerous wildlife onto your property as well. Plus, there is always the property damage to consider: torn up fences, battered bird feeders, holes/broken shingles on your roof, and trash can contents spilled everywhere.

5 (or 6) Effective Tips For Wildlife Deterrence

Keeping wildlife off of your property can be a serious struggle. Even a tall fence doesn’t keep everything out, and it seems like these critters are getting smarter by the day. Your best bet, then, is to reduce the factors on your property that will attract them:

Clear The Clutter: If you’ve got piles of clutter in the yard, it creates moisture imbalance and plenty of hiding spots, both of which are very attractive to wildlife. Piles of leaves, wood, or junk can all be used as a cover for invading pests.
Remove Outdoor Food Sources: Pet food and birdseed will provide food for more than just birds and pets. You’ll want to put them away if you are at risk of wildlife issues.
Secure Your Trash: Outdoor trash cans need to either be inaccessible (fenced or gated in) or have heavy lids that close securely.
Tree Maintenance: Keeping branches trimmed back from the roof or fence line can prevent climbing animals from getting where you don’t want them to go.
Attic Entryways: If you look on your roof, there are a lot of vents and other potential access points to the attic. Make sure these are properly sealed.

We’ll stop there, for now. These tips can be very helpful, but if animals really want to get into your yard, they’ll point and laugh at all of your DIY wildlife control methods. The safest and most certain way to keep wildlife off your property is to enlist professional control methods. That’s why the last and most important tip is to contact Modern Pest Control today for all of your wildlife prevention or eradication needs.