This time of the year, your yard might be getting visits that are scary and creepy. I’m not talking about Halloween trick-or-treaters. I am referring to the wildlife that trespasses into our yard and gardens. Some people enjoy the visitors, but unfortunately most people do not.
It is not unusual at all for raccoons, possums, ground hogs and even skunks to visit our yards. All of these are nocturnal except for the ground hogs. They roam around in the early morning and late afternoon. The others are all nocturnal making their visits at night. You may have these and never see them.
If you dislike these animals, the feeling is mutual. They do not want to encounter you anymore than you want to confront them. They are also afraid of dogs. They see humans and barking dogs as threats and will stay out of the way most of the time.
During this time of the year, these animals are very active. They are looking for food more aggressively as they know winter is coming. These animals need to fatten themselves up to survive the winter. If you have noticed some strange things happening in your yard one of these animals may be the culprit.
As an example at our house, we have stairwell that goes from our back patio to the basement. This past week, I opened the door in the basement into this stairwell and found it had been filled with soil. Within a week’s time, a suspected ground hog had filled this area with soil. Enough soil to fill a wheelbarrow.
This past week, I opened the door in the basement into this stairwell and found it had been filled with soil.
I am using the term “suspected” because as of the time I am writing this, the ground hog theory has not been confirmed. I called a professional wildlife trapper. He was baffled as if there does not appear to be any point of access for an animal the size of a ground hog. Also, it is unknown where the soil came from as there is no place missing any soil.
If you find yourself in a situation like this where one of these animals is getting into your yard calling a professional licensed trapper is usually the best way to rid your yard of the unwanted animal. If you look to hire one of these professionals, make sure they are licensed. Ohio and most other states require the license.
These trappers are usually very passionate about controlling the animals. They know the habits of the animals and what they like to eat. This gives them an advantage when trapping the animals. Some people are reluctant to hire a trapper because they don’t want to harm the animals.
Some trappers focus on humane, live-capture and relocation for nuisance animals, while others are licensed hunters who can legally trap and kill animals during hunting seasons. For nuisance wildlife control, killing may be required for animals that are diseased or injured, and it is sometimes the only legal option, such as with certain animals that are prone to rabies.
Traps available for catching these animals are available to buy and rent. The problem with trapping the animals yourself is you will not have any legal way of moving or disposing of the animals. Because of potential diseases it is illegal to relocate them.
There are organizations that can help you relocate wild animals legally depending on the type of animal. An internet search could help you find one of these groups in your area. You can also reach out to your state’s department of natural resources.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Watch out for these unwanted visitors in your garden this Halloween season
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