NOVA boasts a variety of wild animals, which is great because it means we have thriving and healthy ecosystems. But when they get a little too comfortable with humans, problems begin to crop up. You can take simple steps to reduce the likelihood wildlife will choose your home as a source of food or shelter, such as:

• Seal the exterior of your home, such as cracks in the foundation, holes around plumbing and gas pipes, etc., so that animals don’t make a den out of your home to raise young.
• Keep pet food inside in sealed containers, and ensure pet feeding areas are clean.
• Remove bird feeders when species like bears are spotted nearby.
• Keep trash stored in locked containers (or inside a shed/garage), and only take it out to the curb the morning of trash pickup.
• Don’t feed wild animals or they will become unnaturally comfortable with humans, potentially leading to bigger problems for you and your neighbors.
• Use electric fencing to protect garden beds, crops, or beehives.
• Trim back branches from your home so wildlife can’t use them to access and nest in your home.
• Collect fallen fruit from trees so it doesn’t attract wild animals.
• Communicate and collaborate with your neighbors to keep wild animals safely away from neighborhoods.

It is illegal in Virginia to trap and relocate wildlife unless you have a specific trapper’s license (which we have). Don’t run the risk of trouble with the law. If you need varmints gone, look to Connor’s for quality wildlife control in Washington DC.