With all the progress today and land being taken away, some wildlife can become a problem or nuisance.  By learning their behavior and habitat, you can find ways to live comfortably with wildlife.  There are many books out now about coexisting with wildlife.  One good book is "Wild Neighbors" by The Humane Society of the United States.  You can call our hot line at 804-598-8380 for suggestions and advice. 

Bats

In house:

• turn off all lights and open doors and windows, cut on outside light
• some bats can squeeze through ¼ inch, after bats are gone seal all areas

In attic:

• install a one-way door made for bat exclusion on the last entrance site, then seal up when you know they are all gone (May – July are birthing times)
• use loud noises, bright lights or rags soaked in ammonia to coax the bats into leaving, seal when all are out (May – July are birthing times)

Beavers

• wrap tree trunks in hardware cloth approximately 4 feet high
• install metal fencing around the area
• install electric fencing 1 foot high
• add a 20-40 ft long, 8-12 inch pipe culvert through the dam   

Cottontail Rabbits

Protecting flowers and vegetables:

• put fencing 2 foot high around the area
• garden centers carry a variety of chemical repellents

Protecting trees and shrubs:

• warp tree trunks at least 18 inches high with hardware cloth
• remove vegetation coverage 

Nesting Sparrows, Starlings, and Pigeons

• use repellents such as noisemaking devices, visual stimuli, (life-like hawk/owl/snake replicas) until birds have moved their roosting spot
• install chicken wire laid in parallel rows on roosting surface
• remove all flat surfaces if possible

Nesting Songbirds

Birds attacking people and pets – their way of protecting their young

• avoid the area for the 3 weeks or so until the babies have left
• if you can't avoid the area, use an umbrella, wave cloth to scare birds away, etc.

Eastern Chipmunks

• remove hiding places, such as wood and rock
• if borrowing, bury hardware cloth in that area

Coyotes

• use ammonia in trash cans or empty trash each day
• keep livestock confined and penned
• use electric fencing

Deer

• repellants such at human hair in a stocking, different predator urines found in garden or sporting good shops, hanging mirrors or tinfoil
• 8 foot fencing around the area

 

Groundhogs

• garden centers and feed stores sell repellents to discourage them
• seal all opening under porches and houses
• loud noises and ammonia placed near the dens will drive them away

Moles

• insect control is the biggest way to discourage moles, they eat grubs and other burrowing insects
• repellents found in garden centers

Opossums

• pick up outdoor pet food
• secure trash can lids 

Raccoons

In chimney:

• use ammonia or bag of mothballs to drive out of chimney
• ensure that all young are out afterwards (April – July are birthing times)
• after all are gone, cap chimney

In attics:

• put lights and loud noises (radio) up there for a few days (April – July are birthing times)
• make sure no young are left behind and seal entrance once gone

In gardens and around home:

• use scare tactics such as lights and loud noises
• secure all trash can lids and take up any outside pet food

Skunks

• secure garbage and outside pet food
• remove any wood or rock piles
• seal openings to crawl spaces under houses and porches

Squirrels

In attic:

• make loud noises (radio) and moth balls throughout attic
• once gone, check for young, seal all entrances (late January – November are birthing times)
• install 1-way exit devices

In chimney:

• hang 1/2 inch thick rope down chimney and attach at top so they can climb out
• put ammonia on rags and place in fireplace over flu
• once all have left, check for young cap chimney (birthing is January – November)

Woodpeckers

• insects attract the woodpecker, treat for infestation
• hang tin pans, foil or something that will flutter to scare them
• muffle the sound of the drumming by placing rubber or like material on the area they are pecking

Thank you for your support !