A WILD ANIMAL HAS SETTLED ON YOUR property?
Remember that wildlife occupied our territory long before we got here. Tolerance may be the best solution if the inconvenience it causes you is minimal.
If cohabitation is not an option for you, the key is to understand what attracts animals to your property and then correct the situation. Most often than not, access to a source of food or shelter is the reason why you have guests on your land.
NO TO CAPTURING, TRAPPING AND RELOCATING
In addition to being ineffective in removing wildlife from your property, trapping and relocation are dangerous practices that threaten the survival of these animals. The Ministry of Wildlife strongly discourages these practices which are also illegal under Article 67 of the Act Respecting the Conservation and Development of Wildlife.
If an animal is bothering you, it is possible that it is just passing through and disappears with a little patience. If the situation becomes intolerable, start by applying simple prevention methods:
- Avoid feeding wild animals (otherwise they will come back!)
- Keep your pets’ food indoors
- Do not leave garbage bags accessible outside
- Install a fence / trellis around your vegetable garden and your plants
- Plant marigolds, lavender, rosemary, plecantrus-caninus, or other plants that repel certain animals
- Equip your outdoor lights with a motion detector to surprise nocturnal animals, which prefer to stay in the dark
- Get a motion-activated sprinkler (available on Amazon or in department stores)
1. During the day, put a cloth soaked in liquid ammonia or other liquid repellants in the burrow. Never do this after sunset, as you may have unpleasant encounters with the animal. The next day you should find the cloth next to the burrow since the animal will probably have pushed it back out.
2. Repeat the operation every day for 10-14 days. When you see that the cloth has remained in the burrow despite the sunrise, the animal has moved.
3. Be sure to block the burrow with wire mesh so that it does not become the home of another guest.
Wild animals seek protection from the elements, and this can lead them into buildings. If you want to avoid such a situation, it is important to block all the entrances that an animal could use to infiltrate (ventilation ducts, air vents, ventilation holes, chimneys, holes in the structure, etc.)
Cover each of these issues with a securely anchored and screwed in wire mesh. Remember, raccoons have a surprising dexterity that allows them to remove a wire mesh if it has not been securely fastened.
If the animal has infiltrated your basement or a room in the house, trap it in there, making sure to leave a window ajar to let the animal leave on its own. Turn off all lights so that the only light source is the open window. Instinctively, the animal will move outside to regain its freedom.
If you choose to call professionals, be sure to educate yourself on their practices first. Separating babies from their mothers or relocating animals haphazardly will do more harm than good.
Note that the Roussillon SPCA does not offer any wildlife trapping or relocation services. However, you can contact FAUNEX to find out about their prices.
- Store garbage bags in a rigid, airtight bin.
- Keep your bins in an enclosed place (shed, garage, etc.), and only take them out the morning of collection.
- Place an ammonia-soaked cloth on top of the bags, the smell will repel animals.