How do I keep the squirrels off my feeder?
What do I do to remove squirrels from my attic?
Should I be worried if I see a raccoon or fox out in the daytime?
How do I keep opossums, raccoons, and other wildlife out of my garage, yard, or from under my house?
What is that chattering in my chimney?
Can I smoke out chimney swifts or have them removed by a chimney sweep?
What do I do if wrens have nested in my mailbox, garage, or on my door wreath?
Why do birds keep hitting my windows and what can I do?
When do I need to take down my hummingbird feeder?
How do I get a woodpecker to stop pecking my house?
How do I keep deer out of my yard and away from my plants?
How do I keep a beaver from damaging my trees?

How do I keep the squirrels off my feeder?
Unfortunately, nothing seems to be actually squirrel-proof.  Squirrels will test your wits and leave you humbled, so persistence and creativity are key.  Below are the most commonly used methods for deterring those squirrels that keep going to your feeders.    

• Baffle squirrels with specially designed, squirrel-safe devices or feeders. Feeders can be mounted on a 4"- or 6"-wide section of PVC pipe to make climbing more difficult.  PVC has a tough, smooth surface making climbing more difficult.  Squirrels can leap horizontally up to 10 feet, so make sure feeders are located far from any trees, fences, or other launch pads.
  
  
• Change the menu.  Instead of serving sunflower and seed mixes, fill your feeders with two of the few things most squirrels prefer not to eat--safflower and thistle seeds. Safflower seeds are a favorite treat for cardinals, doves, chickadees, titmice, grosbeaks, nuthatches and finches. Thistle seeds attract goldfinches, pine siskins, mourning doves, and juncos.
  
  
• Offer another alternative like suet, a block of rendered animal fat.  Just make sure to use a pure suet, one that doesn't contain any bits of seeds or berries.
  
  
• Sprinkle blood meal on the soil surface, the smell of which squirrels seem to avoid.  Hot pepper sprays and cayenne pepper is not recommended as it may get in the eyes of squirrels, birds, and other animals.
  
  
• Entertain the squirrels at an area away from the bird feeders.  Provide squirrel toys or separate squirrel feeders with foods, like assorted nuts and squirrel treats, which do a much better job of filling up squirrels.  Just make sure squirrel feeders are located at least 30 feet from your bird feeders.

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What do I do to remove squirrels from my attic?
People may initially hear the sound of squirrels running around as if in the ceiling. They are typically most active in the early morning or late evening.  Squirrels are often attracted to attics because they provide a nice, warm, safe environment for nesting.  To assess the situation, determine how the squirrels are entering and exiting the space.  But before doing anything, make sure that there are no babies involved.  Squirrels will typically build a nest in insulation, upholstered furniture, or in between wooden support beams or walls.  A terrible scenario is when the mother is trapped outside the house only to find later that had   babies.

Squirrels can be trapped and removed using either a small Hav-A-Hart trap or by using an exclusion device like the one-way door. Good bait suggestions include cereal, grains, nuts (especially peanuts), sunflower seeds, and mixed peanut butter and oatmeal is a favorite!  Once squirrels are removed, all of the holes and gaps leading into the attic can be repaired.

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Should I be worried if I see a raccoon or fox out in the daytime?
As humans and wildlife compete for the same living space, it is not surprising to see wildlife in your backyard (even in the city limits). You may catch a glimpse of some wild animals that you are not accustomed to seeing.  This is especially true during the summer months when many animals have babies.  Extra mouths to feed requires overtime on the parents' part in searching for food.   Some animals, like foxes, may forage for food in daylight hours, as opposed to waiting until dusk or dawn.  Other nocturnal animals, like raccoons, may be active during the daytime without there being anything wrong.  So what do you do?

• Do not panic or instantly assume something is wrong.  Observe all wild animals from a distance and enjoy.
  
• Do not approach any wild animal having babies or acting strangely (appears overly aggressive, seems tame, lethargic or unsteady).  Animals with young may act more aggressive than usual, so give them space.
  
• Educate yourself and your children about wildlife and rabies.
  
• Do feed the birds.  Do not feed other wildlife.  Keep the “wild” in wildlife.  

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How do I keep opossums, raccoons, and other wildlife out of my garage, yard or from under my house?

Keeping wild animals away is easy if you make your home less attractive to our   wildlife friends.

• Keep all cat food, dog food, and birdseed in sealed containers.
  
• Inspect your home for any openings and cover any holes providing access.
  
• Do not leave food outside for your pets.  Remove bowls when they are finished.
  
• Trim any tree limbs hanging near or around your home.
  
• Position all feeders (songbird, hummingbird, squirrel) far away from the house.
  
• Keep all trashcans sealed.
  
• Keep garage doors, screened porches, and storage sheds closed when not in use.  
  

If you need to hire a “wildlife control” service, choose a reputable service that uses only non-lethal and humane techniques.  Ask how they will remove the animal.  Some companies offering wildlife solutions use inhumane and lethal methods.

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What is that chattering in my chimney?
Chimney swifts and chimney sweeps are too often brought together when a homeowner doesn’t understand the chattering coming from their chimney.  Swifts are remarkable little birds belonging to the swallow family.  They eat thousands of flying insects each day, including winged termites.  Swifts typically have only 1 nest of which the babies are their noisiest for only 2 weeks.  The babies then fledge the nest and the parents leave shortly thereafter.  Swifts migrate to Peru each winter and return in spring.  The same pair will return to your chimney each year to raise their young.  It is against federal law to remove or disturb their nest or babies.

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Can I smoke out chimney swifts or have them removed by a chimney sweep?
Federal law protects Swifts, so disturbing them or having anyone remove their active nest is illegal.  Swift numbers are threatened due to loss of nesting sites and capped chimneys.  Their nests are small and pose no safety or health hazards when chimney is maintained.  The benefits of having swifts in your chimney far outweigh anything else.  These are very special, unique songbirds that are depending on human tolerance and understanding for survival.

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What do I do if wrens have nested in my mailbox, garage, or on my door wreath?
If you can exercise patience and avoid the door for a few weeks then that would be best.  Eggs will take 2 ½ to 3 weeks to incubate and then it will be another 2 weeks before the babies leave the nest.  If wrens have nested inside the mailbox, see if the postman will hang the mail on the side of the mailbox or on your door until the babies fledge.  And simply leaving a small 2 inch opening at the bottom of the garage door will allow wrens to fly in and out and continue caring for their babies, while preventing anything else from entering.  It is against federal law to disturb or remove the nest of any migratory bird.

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Why do birds keep hitting my windows and what can I do?
Birds often strike windows because they see open space or reflections of landscapes.  They do not realize that a hard, transparent surface is there.  Birds will also strike windows when they are trying to flee from a predator.  To understand the problem, go outside and look at the windows.  Those that show a refection of your backyard, trees or sky or those that look like they provide a direct flight path through your house are trouble for songbirds.

• If you can see straight through your house, interrupt the flow by rearranging the furniture, closing a door, or by closing the blinds. Attach branches in front of windows for a natural look.  This will encourage birds to avoid the window, but not obstruct the view from the inside.  
  
• If you see a reflection of the sky or trees, break up external reflections.  Apply stickers or tempera paint dots on the window a few inches apart (reapply when you wash the windows) or spray “fake snow”.  Hang colored/shiny streamers or ribbon outside the window.  These move with the slightest breeze and discourage birds from coming too close.  Hang a curtain on the outside of your window during the hours of reflection (closing the blinds inside will not prevent the reflection).  Tack netting up on the outside of the window.  If all else fails, the net will prevent serious injuries.

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When do I need to take down my hummingbird feeder?
Hummingbirds migrate in response to the shortening of days; so nothing you do will make them stay longer than they should.  Hummers travel south when the timing is right, so leaving your feeders out until two weeks after the last hummingbird sighting is recommended.  Those hummingbirds leaving late will benefit from the extra fat reserves.  Many hummingbird enthusiasts in the southeast actually leave their feeders out until November in hopes of attracting some of the atypical hummers passing through the area.

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How do I get a woodpecker to stop pecking my house?
Woodpeckers peck at homes for one of the following reasons:  Identifying territory through a technique called drumming, common.  Attempting to create a cavity for nesting, not as common.  Searching for insects, not as common. Most of the time, woodpeckers will stop drumming on a home within a couple of weeks of starting.  But if you must take action, try one of the following techniques

• Hang shiny mylar strips, mylar balloons, or aluminum foil around area of home.  Woodpeckers do not like shiny, mirror-like materials.
  
• Strategically aim a sprinkler with a motion detector (Scarecrow) at the location where the bird is drumming.  A few squirts with the sprinkler often deter the woodpecker from returning.
  
• If a woodpecker has started a hole, cover the hole with flashing or aluminum.  This will minimize further damage, and may scare the woodpecker from further drumming on your home.
  
• If the location is near a window, it may be worthwhile to hang a static cling hawk on nearby windows.  Coopers hawks are a natural predator and may deter the offender.  Sometimes, hanging latex balloons with large, stenciled eyes around the home works as a scare tactic.
  
• Try tacking up some netting three inches from the outside of the house.  The net will keep the woodpecker away from the wood and is a longer lasting solution.

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How do I keep deer out of my yard and away from my plants?
There is no one perfect technique to repel deer from yards and gardens.  What works one month may not work the next, so an arsenal of methods is often necessary.  Short of erecting a 10-foot fence, scare tactics work well.  But as deer grow accustomed to the deterrent being used, it becomes less effective and will need to be changed.

• Sprinklers with motion detectors, like the “Scarecrow”, are effective in keeping deer (and other animals) away.  When movement is detected, the sprinkler shoots a sudden burst of water for a few seconds.  The combination of the noise, water, and movement of the sprinkler are frightening to deer.
  
• A variety of products are available, like coyote urine, that emit scents that are either frightening or disturbing to deer.  But before going for the more expensive products, try hanging bars of Ivory or Irish Spring soap every 6 feet from trees to create a scent barrier bordering your yard.  Blood meal can also be used to create this barrier, but will need to be applied every few months.  Anything used as a scented deterrent will need to be reapplied as the scent fades.
  
• A variety of sprays can be applied to plantings that make them less attractive to deer.  Some products, like Deer-away, can be effective if sprayed on monthly. 
  
• In the south, many people are now opting to landscape with plants that deer do not find tasteful.  Deer love tulips, pansies, laurel, forsythia, Japanese yew, crocus and roses. They are less likely to eat iris, geraniums, English holly, daisies, dahlias, tiger lilies, bougainvillea, wisteria, yarrow, and narcissus.

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How do I keep a beaver from damaging my trees?
Removing the animal may seem like the solution, but it may create additional problems.  It is illegal to remove one without a permit, and can actually create room for another animal to move in.  Trapping an adult beaver may leave young behind to die, since beavers typically stay with the parents for the first two years of life.  And while it may seem that destroying the dam will encourage the beaver to relocate, they are persistent and will have a new dam constructed in no time. The best solution is to focus on what’s attracting the beaver. 

Beavers are true vegetarians and do not consume fish, or trees, like many people think. During the warmer months, they eat aquatic vegetation. And when the weather turns colder, they will consume bark from the trees they fell for dam construction. Weeping willow trees are certainly beautiful around ponds, but they are also a delicacy for beavers.  The best way to protect any cluster of trees (especially ornamental) is to wrap the base with a heavy gauge fencing 3 feet from the base.  Allow the wire to overlap so that as the tree grows the wire can be lengthened.  Or when considering landscaping around water, do not plants trees that would be enticing to beavers.   

It’s crucial to point out that beavers have always served a very important role in the ecosystem.  They modify the natural environment in such a way that the overall ecosystem builds upon the change.  Ponds, wetlands, and meadows formed by beaver dams increase bio-diversity and improve the area’s overall environment. Beavers produce excellent habitat for a variety of other wildlife, including numerous waterfowl, fish and amphibians.  It’s important to fully understand the positive effects that beavers and dams bring to ecosystems before taking any action.

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