
Whether you have bugs, bats, or rodents invading your home, you’ll want to contact an exterminator quickly. Find out how much pest control costs in Columbus, OH.
You do not want this solitary creature to become your persnickety neighbor
Badgers are pretty cute when you spot them in a viral video on your social media feed, but that’s about the only place you want to see them. When they pop up in your garden to start digging holes, eating your plants, and hissing at your dog, you’ll want to know how to keep badgers away ASAP. These cantankerous critters are tenacious and will keep returning to the same spot if they can. Keep reading and find out how to get rid of badgers in as safe and humane a way as possible before they become terrible tenants.
Badgers may have made their way to your home for a few reasons. Most often, they’re just looking for food and shelter. Heavy construction in the area may have forced the badgers out of their homes, or you could have a very appealing garden for them to set up shop. They love finding larvae and earthworms for a snack or dinner, so it’s only natural they’ll head to a place with abundant soil.
There are a handful of tell-tell signs you have a badger making itself at home in your space. Badgers aren’t too complicated—they typically keep the same pattern going when they’re on your property.
Holes in the ground: They like to dig in your flower beds or grass when looking for food like larvae. These holes are deep, and you’ll quickly find out how dangerous they are when you accidentally step in one.
Droppings: Badgers leave behind their own special calling cards on your lawn or flower bed. You’ll often find the droppings in more shallow holes as badgers leave them as a way of marking “their” territory.
Remnants of prey: Another signature move for a badger is to leave behind the scraps of food they don’t consume from their prey, such as rodent heads, spines, or animal fur. Yuck.
Fortunately, you have a few options for keeping badgers away, but it may take more than one to finally work.
Badgers are naturally nervous animals, so if an area is well-lit, this may keep them from wandering in. Solar lights that charge during the day and light up at night are a great solution because you can strategically place them around the flower beds.
Removing wildlife that badgers feed on may prove difficult, but some food sources are easier to eliminate. For example, spilled birdseed can attract badgers, so pick up any seeds that have fallen or fruit and vegetable scraps from trees.
Even though larvae are a badger’s favorite meal, it’s not recommended that you kill them with an insecticide. Applying an insecticide can contaminate your soil and cause further damage to the area.
Your trash may not be as secure as you think it is. Invest in a lockable garbage bin for your food waste to keep animals out of your yard.
Strong-smelling oils like citronella can deter badgers, but these typically need frequent and abundant application. It’s also possible the badger will get used to the scent over time. You can try other strong-scented items, such as male urine or manure, but these may not be the most practical methods.
Sometimes the best offense is a good defense. Stop badgers and other animals from getting into your yard in the first place with a few tricks.
Add mesh fencing: Adding a fence is a common way of dealing with badgers, but it’s important to do so correctly. The fence should run 12 to 18 inches underground to prevent badgers from digging under and helping themselves to your garden.
Add a garden scarer: Badgers don’t share their territory very well, so a well-placed garden scarer (such as a lighted scarecrow) can keep them from stepping foot on your land.
Use motion detector lights: They’re most likely to stir at night, so installing motion detector lights can scare badgers away before they ever reach your home.
Keep your garden clean: Removing debris and keeping lids on bins will make your garden beds much less appealing. Don’t forget to keep your pet food indoors, too.
You may prefer staying as far away from a badger as possible, or you don’t have the time to try various removal methods. If this is the case, consider hiring a professional local pest control service for small animals. Wildlife removal companies can not only safely remove rodents and mammals from your home, but they can relocate them in a humane manner. The average animal removal cost is $190 to $585.
Badgers are among the other small animals that make up about 25% of wildlife control visits. Raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and possums are much more common, accounting for over 50% of pest control treatments combined. Other animals, like moles, deer, and groundhogs, are also commonly treated by pros.
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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