Around The House

Barbecues:

• Empty and clean grease traps.
• Burn off and clean grills before and after each use.
• Check below any surfaces for fallen foodstuffs.
• If possible store your barbecue inside (do not keep propane inside).
• The smell of a barbecue can attract many species from distances. Be aware of who may be visiting your barbecue.

Garbage:

• Keep garbage, recycling and compost indoors until morning of pickup if possible.
• If your garbage is kept outdoors utilize a hard sided bin with a secured lid.
• In bear country utilize a bear-proof container for garbage, recycling and compost.
• Put a #StashYourTrash sticker on your containers if allowed by your municipality.
• Contact your municipality to find out what local bylaws may apply.

Pet Food:

• Pet food should not be left outdoors as it will attract numerous species.
  • Regular feeding sites can become a source of disease transmission, conflict between species, and conflict with people.
• Managed Trap-Neuter-Release cat colonies should have food removed as soon as it is consumed by cats.
• Water dishes should be emptied, cleaned and refilled regularly.

• Do not keep food items or other attractants from this list in garages or sheds if they are not secure against the wildlife in your area (especially bears).
• Screen doors and thin/old wood aren’t much match for a hungry animal, be they a bear or an industrious raccoon; do not rely on them to keep wildlife out.

• Harvest fruits and vegetables as soon as they’re ripe.
• Contact local social services and charitable programs or community groups to find out if others can use excesses;
• Fencing is useful to keep wildlife out – consider what wildlife is approach which plants to determine appropriate weight of fencing and supports necessary.
• Plant non-berry or fruit-bearing shrubs and trees.
• If you have uncertain visitors accessing your gardens, consider setting up a trail camera to identify the culprit – you may be surprised.
• To keep out rabbits, squirrels, voles and other small critters, consider filling any holes on your immediate property where they may be hiding, as well as any tall grasses. Smaller animals like to have places to hide and this makes your garden less attractive.
• If you have burrowing animals dig your fence at least one-foot underground (but always ensure it’s safe to dig in your yard first by searching for a call ‘before you dig’ line in your region). This is labour intensive but will provide a long-term solution.
• Applying some scents can keep smaller animals away from your garden or beneath your deck. Check our resources page for directions on how to make DIY repellents with household items.
• Large gardens in bear country may require permanent electric fencing.
• Rotate aversion techniques to ensure wildlife doesn’t grow comfortable with individual methods or placements.

• Natural green spaces, forests, recreational parks and parkettes can all be home to attractants that bring people and wildlife closer together. Sometimes resolving these attractants and potential conflict sites requires partnership with the greater community, municipal or state/provincial governments.
• Identify who owns the property in question by contacting first your municipality or local representative then working up various levels of government.
• Fruit-bearing trees and berry trees will attract bears as well as other wildlife. Native plants growing in natural areas should be left unless they are in a conflict site.
• Utilize wildlife-proof waste receptacles in natural areas or where wildlife is often present.