Evict Unwanted Wildlife from Your Yard this Fall

By The City and County of Broomfield

Fall is the time when young animals have grown up and moved out of the nest, so it is the best time to check and secure your yard against wildlife. This allows wild animals to find shelter elsewhere for the coming winter and ensures they won’t find a safe place to nest around your home this coming spring. Animals looking to find their way onto your property include: rabbits, voles, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and foxes. While each of these animals are different in size and behavior, there are a few things you can do to keep most wildlife out of your yard.

First, keep wild animals out of your property by securing entry points. This includes sealing the space beneath your deck or under your shed, fixing any slats or holes in your fence line and installing a chimney cap for your chimney. Female raccoons find chimneys a desirable nursery so place a chimney cap now to avoid nesting this spring.

Avoid giving animals easy access to your roof by trimming tree limbs to create a minimum fourfoot wide buffer from the edge of your roof. If you live in a heavily wooded area, check your roof regularly for chew marks and holes. Squirrels can chew a hole three inches in diameter to gain access to your attic.

Excluding wildlife from front yards is difficult because yards are often open and not fenced. A good start is to locate and fill any holes under the concrete, porch, steps or driveways. Contact your local Wildlife Master at 303-464-5554 for tips on how to be sure all the animals are out of the hole before you close it up this fall.

Different animals will show different signs of their visit like holes, droppings or feathers which can help you identify the animals. Your local Wildlife Master can help you identify the animal and provide you with appropriate eviction and exclusion techniques for that animal. Different animals will need different methods of exclusion and eviction.

Animals are attracted by food, water, shelter, and space. As always, please avoid feeding wildlife. Pet food, bird seed, uncovered garbage cans, uncovered compost piles, fallen fruit, and BBQ grills will be attractive for hungry animals. Cleanup these attractants during the fall to avoid springtime issues.

Taking time now to prevent unwanted issues next spring will be well worth your efforts. The Broomfield Wildlife Masters are local residents who volunteer their time with the City and County of Broomfield’s Open Space and Trails department to assist residents with wildlife questions and concerns. Access the Wildlife Masters Help Line at 303-464-5554, leave a message and someone will respond to you within 24 hours. Learn more at Broomfield.org/WildlifeMasters.

AdventHealth Avista

303-673-1000 https://www.adventhealth.com/hospital/ adventhealth-avista

Hospital stays can be stressful but when you get a visit from one of AdventHealth Avista’s therapy dogs, you cannot help but smile. There is something soothing about petting a dog who is content to just hang with you.They say a dog is a man’s best friend, but that friendship goes both ways. In the medical care setting, the human-animal bond can be a mutually beneficial relationship that improves the physical, social, and emotional lives of both the animal and the patient. Many patients are grateful for the AdventHealth Avista therapy dog program, which has been delivering smiles to patients and visitors and staff since 2009.

Camp Bow Wow

303-466-1913 campbowwow.com/Westminster

Camp Bow Wow is your local resource for trustworthy and reliable Doggy Day Care, Boarding, and Grooming. We recommend Doggy Day Care to pet parents who might not have the time they wish they had to take their dogs on long walks or out to play! Your dog has the chance to burn energy both physically and mentally. Day Care helps your pup learn socialization with other dogs and humans while you’re at work, running errands, or traveling. All of our Camp Counselors are Pet First Aid and CPR Certified and we have Camper Cams for pet parents to watch their pups play all day!

City Bark

720-798-3146 https://www.citybark.com

At City Bark, we’ve spent over 15 years creating the perfect environment where your canine companions or feline friends can relax (or play) while you’re gone! With seven award-winning facilities across Colorado, we’ve made it our mission to provide each pet with expert care tailored to their unique personality and needs to ensure every pet leaves with their tail wagging. Whether you need overnight boarding, a day of socialization and play in daycare, or professional grooming or training, our highly trained team of pet lovers are here to provide you with peace of mind and an awesome experience for your pet. Book your pet’s next vacay today!