By Jenni Boucher
Most people come to Florida for our beautiful beaches and
tropical climate. Our entire state is a tourist destination for travelers from
around the country and around the world. With all of the focus on theme parks,
beaches and tourism, we often forget how close we really are to nature – until
it invites itself in!
Interactions with wildlife are not uncommon for most
residents, but the scenario takes a completely different turn when the
interaction is inside your home. Opossums, raccoons, rats, mice, squirrels, and
snakes are just some of the species routinely trapped inside Florida homes. Can
you imagine going to the refrigerator in the middle of the night for a drink and
being greeted by this guy?
Prevention is the best method for keeping wildlife out of
your home. Don’t assume that there aren’t ways for pests to get into your home,
even if you have a brand new home. Why? The Florida Building Code has tons of
provisions for protecting your home from termites and other wood-destroying
organisms, but very little mention of proofing for other pests. Nearly all
homes have at least one access point where wildlife can enter, such as: broken
or missing covers for roof vents, soffits, crawlspace accesses, or dryer vents.
These holes/gaps don’t have to be large – animals can enter through holes the
size of a quarter. There doesn’t even need to be an existing access – many
animals can chew their own!
Once any access points have been discovered, make sure that
they are closed-off immediately to keep animals out. Trim any tree branches
that animals could be using for travel in and out of your home, and remove any
landscaping that is within 12” of the walls of the structure. Make efforts to clean-up
any vegetation, wood piles or rubbish in the yard that could provide cover for
any animals already near your home. Make sure that all of your outdoor garbage
cans have tight-fitting lids – animals love our leftovers! Raccoons especially
love cat and dog food commonly left outside for neighborhood strays. Do not
ever attempt to feed any wildlife, doing so removes their fear of humans and
can make them attack humans in an attempt to get food.
What should you do if you suspect an animal is already in
your home or soon-to-be-home? DO NOT TRY TO CATCH IT YOURSELF!
Most species of Florida wildlife can be vicious, especially
when backed into a corner and/or protecting young, and come equipped with
razor-sharp teeth and claws. In addition to the high likelihood of a hospital
visit to treat the wounds they inflict, these animals often carry a host of parasites
and diseases – like fleas, ticks, several worm species and rabies.
Your best bet would be to hire a Wildlife Removal
Specialist. Vastly different from a regular pest control company, these
specialists have the knowledge and tools necessary to trap and relocate
wildlife. Find out how the specialist intends to solve your problem. Some
companies use poisons to kill the animals, but this is not the most humane
method of removal and dead animals can leave a nasty odor if they die in an
inaccessible location, like inside a wall. Some companies will provide a free
inspection and estimate to establish the scope of your problem and what the
best method of removal will be.
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