Skunk Removal: Take Matters Under Control

Skunks wouldn’t be all that bothersome if they didn’t spray their nasty-smelling liquid, act as potential disease carriers and thieve when night comes around. Cute, furry creatures they may be but if you have children and pets at home they risk sustaining injuries or worse, contracting and spreading diseases.

Skunk removal is a task best left to professional animal control services. But in the absence of any or if you’d rather undertake the job yourself, you need to know how to get it done.

• Dispose trash properly and don’t miss garbage collection days. Skunks and other pests are drawn to food and any scraps they have easy access to will compel them to set up home in and around your house.

• Use a tight fitting garbage bin cover at all times. Skunks are nocturnal but if driven by hunger, may venture out during the day in search of food.

• Remove fallen nuts and berries which are also food for skunks. If you have fruit-bearing trees, harvest them when ripe and store appropriately.

• Uncovered compost heaps, easily accessible water sources, and grubs and insects under logs and leaves are attractants. Keep the yard clean.

• If you can, use floodlights to illuminate skunk-prone areas. Being nocturnal they’re likelier to avoid venturing out.

Bird Control Methods Proven To Be Effective

Birds are not considered pests until they overrun our surroundings, enter our homes and decide that our abodes are also theirs. As beautiful and carefree as they may be, the phobias we have as well as more serious threats like the spread of disease mean that we need to come up with control solutions to force them to move.

Humane deterrents exist which have proven to be effective. The use of tools is common as is repellent sprays, not toxic but containing agents they can’t tolerate. Relying on poisonous sprays is counterproductive because even if they successfully kill the birds, we’re at risk of inhaling the chemicals.

Alarms

Alarms in the form of distress calls, visual objects or a combination of both can be installed in areas that attract birds. To ensure they continue to be effective, use them together with the other tools in this list.

Spikes

Prevent birds from perching and roosting on ledges, tops of walls and other landing areas by having spikes fitted. Occasionally check these areas to remove leaves or twigs the birds may have laid over the spikes.

Netting

Birds don’t set up home just anywhere but choose locations they deem to be safe. These include places like open ceilings with beams, under eaves, rafters and the like. Installing nets in these areas is an effective way to prevent them from landing.