Do any of the following scenarios sound familiar to you? In slippers and bathrobe, yawning, you carry a bag of stinky garbage out to the trash cans near your back porch, only to be scared to death by a family of skunks that are even stinkier than your garbage. How about: you take a late-night stroll through your garden only to spot a bandit-faced raccoon lurking in the shadows, and is that your garden glove he is dragging away? Or maybe you go up into your attic to find something and you discover a strange looking nest carved out of your insulation.

If you would rather not have to deal with wildlife in your yard or inside your Atlanta home, there are some important steps you can take to discourage them from hanging around, and one crucial thing you can do to be sure they will stay away. Check out the following list.

• Don’t give wildlife places to hide in your yard. If you have clutter such as woodpiles, unwanted materials, children’s toys and the like, have them removed, or store them away inside. The fewer places animals find to hide, the less likely they will be to hang around.
• Keep trash cans inside your garage or shed. If you need to keep them outside, make sure they have tight fitting lids. You can also use bungee cords for added protection. Animals are drawn in by the smell of garbage, and if they can get into it, they will keep coming back for more.
• Trim trees and bushes away from your home. Furry creatures, as well as insects, will use these as bridges to get to your walls or roofline. And once there they will look for ways to get inside.
• Repair or replace any broken screens where an animal could squeeze through. Also keep your windows locked. Raccoons have been known to open windows.
• Place wired mesh inside all downspouts to keep animals from climbing up inside them and gaining access to your roof areas.
• Install chicken wire to keep animals out from under your porches, patios or garage.
• Don’t leave food outside, even pet food. Animals are always looking for a free meal, whether it is garbage, fresh pickings, or food left out overnight.
• Reach out to a professional pest control company to do a thorough job of getting and keeping wildlife off your property and out of your home.

The fact is, wildlife out, or inside, your property is never a good idea. They cause damage to buildings and insulation, chew on wires which can cause a fire, and will sometimes hurt pets. But with Active Pest Control‘s Nuisance Wildlife Management Program, you can put your mind at ease. This program is designed to keep unwanted critters away from your home, or to capture and remove wildlife in a humane way if they have already invaded. Don’t take chances with wildlife, let Active Pest Control, with our 40+ years of experience, help you out today.