Anecdotal evidence suggests coffee grounds can keep chipmunks away. Sprinkle them throughout your garden, yard, and plants to help deter them. As an added bonus, coffee grounds can help keep the slugs away, and they’re great for acid-loving plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
Droppings from cockroaches, squirrels, mice, bats, and birds can resemble rat poop, making it easy to confuse one for another. Mouse droppings are smaller and more pointed, cockroach droppings resemble tiny black specks or ground pepper, and bat guano can look similar but usually crumbles into powder. Bird droppings sometimes have a similar shape, but often include white uric acid deposits. If in doubt, it’s best to consult a pest control professional for proper identification and removal.
Fleas are master hiders, so they’re always looking for safe spots. In addition to living directly on your pets, they’re likely to hide in bedding materials, not unlike the infamous bed bugs. They also like carpet and thick grass, for similar reasons. They’re more likely to hang around dirt and debris in general, which is why it’s important to keep the home clean.
Scarecrows and lifelike animal decoys, such as snakes, owls, coyotes, foxes, and hawks, can initially deter rabbits. However, these tactics might lose effectiveness if rabbits learn they are harmless. Having your dog or cat roam and mark the yard with their scent can also prove beneficial. Keep in mind tactics like these work best when combined with other methods.
If you’re an animal lover and want to support biodiversity, consider letting a possum live peacefully in your yard. Possums rarely contract rabies or behave aggressively, and they can keep problematic rat, mouse, cockroach, slug, snail, and tick populations down. You might just want to make some modifications to prevent them from making a home in your attic, chimney, or crawl spaces.
The Britton, SD homeowners’ guide to animal fencing services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Pipe fencing is an extremely strong, durable option for containing horses and other livestock. This guide breaks down the factors that affect pipe fence cost.