Animal pests can be a major nuisance around your home. Squirrels, raccoons, neighborhood cats, and other animals can destroy your property or create messes in your yard. Fortunately, most issues are avoidable with a little foresight. The following tips can help you ensure your yard is not an attractive stopping place for the neighborhood wildlife.

Tip #1: Remove pet food

If you put out food for your pets to enjoy, then you may also be feeding all the neighborhood animals. It's a much better option to feed your pets inside or to at least bring in their food bowls in the evening so marauders aren't drawn to your yard. Food intended for wildlife can also be a problem. The most obvious example are bird feeders, which can also attract non-bird animals like skunks, squirrels, and raccoons. Install bird feeders on posts with squirrel baffles affixed to them, or hang them from chain with baffles. The baffles prevent the animals from climbing to the feeder and reaching the food.

Tip #2: Keep the garden clean

Gardens can also attract animals. Food left too long on the plant is the most obvious concern. Installing animal fencing and bed covers can prevent animals from getting to the food. Also, clean up any fallen fruit or berries from both ornamental and edible plantings of fruit trees. Placing scare devices, such as motion-activated sprinklers or movement devices, in the vegetable garden can also scare off any animal invaders. Finally, never leave debris piles, like stacks of branches or leaves, in the yard or garden. This is because it's not just food that attracts animal pests. Debris piles can provide protected areas for dens, which can also be a major attractant for the wildlife in your area.

Tip #3: Clean up the garbage

Garbage provides an easy dinner, particularly for rodents, raccoons, and cats. Use garbage cans with tight-fitting, hard-to-remove lids to keep the pests away. Also, make sure the area around your garbage cans is kept clean, and never leave any uncovered garbage out on a patio or tucked into a garage or shed. It's also a good idea to keep your garbage and recycling cans as clean as possible so food odors don't attract pests. If your cans are particularly dirty, there are services like Respectable  Receptacle LLC that can get them spic and span again.

Living with wildlife doesn't have to be difficult if you use these tips to avoid issues.