Although raccoons aren’t particularly picky regarding food, certain sounds, metals, and smells bother them. You can place these items around your home to keep raccoons away:
Place wire mesh screens around and underneath decks and porches to prevent raccoons from nesting.
Put metal sheeting around the edges of your roof or at the base of trees to deter raccoons from coming close.
Place a loud battery-operated radio near the raccoon’s den to keep them from nesting.
Keep a bowl of cider vinegar on your deck or porch.
Remove old raccoon scents by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting underneath porches and decks.
Rocks are less likely to attract snakes and other critters because their prey (termites, ticks, and other insects) don’t usually inhabit this environment. However, if you have placed together rocks with large spaces in between or near a source of water, you may find a snake or an occasional chipmunk seeking shelter.
Voles are pretty prolific breeders, managing to squeeze in 5 to 10 litters a year, and each litter usually has around 3 to 5 little ones. These furry creatures are flexible with their love lives, as they can breed all year round, though spring and summer are their prime times. If they're living it up in warmer areas, voles don't take a break and keep reproducing non-stop.
The truth is, there really is no such thing as a 100% deer-proof plant. Deer will decimate even the prickliest flora if they’re hungry enough. However, there are plenty of beautiful plants that deer don’t necessarily enjoy. These include thistles, wisteria vines, sword ferns, and beautyberries.
Deer are herbivores, and they love vegetable gardens as much as Peter Rabbit. If you don’t want to fence in your entire property, consider creating an attractive raised-bed veggie garden with mesh fencing around it to keep out deer and other critters.
Groundhogs are non-aggressive animals that are afraid of humans. They forage for vegetation in yards and gardens, so they can often be seen as a nuisance if you spot one on your property. That said, if you happen to get bitten or scratched by a fearful groundhog, be sure to get checked by a doctor, as they could carry infections or diseases like rabies, Lyme, or the rare tularemia.
The Cando, ND homeowners’ guide to animal removal services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
When calculating wildlife removal costs, you’ll need to consider the type, size, and amount of animals. Our guide will show you the wildlife removal cost.
The cost to remove a groundhog can vary depending on where you live and whether you do it yourself or hire a professional. We’ll help you figure out the true cost of groundhog removal, along with strategies for humane trapping and release.
Find out how much it costs to remove armadillos and stop them from coming back. Know how much to budget to humanely remove these pesky critters from your yard.