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Resources for Common Wildlife Issues
What is hazing?
Keeping bears out of the yard
Keeping bears out of the yard
Hazing is a method that makes use of deterrents (such as loud noises or spraying) to move an animal out of an area or discourage an undesirable behavior or activity. Click the button below to read about some simple strategies you can use in a variety of situations.
Keeping bears out of the yard
Keeping bears out of the yard
Keeping bears out of the yard
Bird feeders, compost, and trash bins can all entice bears to enter your yard in search of a yummy snack. Click the button below for tips on how to prevent this and keep both you and our native bears safe!
What to do about squirrels
Keeping bears out of the yard
What to do about squirrels
How to Identify a Squirrel Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Attic, Soffitt, Dormer
- Entry Point: Roof level (foundation)
- Common Entry Point: Soffit, Trim/Roof, Dormer, Vents
- Size of Entry Point: >2 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: 2
How to Identify a Squirrel Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Attic, Soffitt, Dormer
- Entry Point: Roof level (foundation)
- Common Entry Point: Soffit, Trim/Roof, Dormer, Vents
- Size of Entry Point: >2 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: 2
- Den Establishment Period: 1) Fall-Winter 2) Late Summer
- Young Born: 1) Spring: Feb-April 2) Fall: Aug-Sept
- Number of Young per Litter: 2-6
- Young Weaned: >84 days
- Common Sounds Heard: Gnawing, Rapid footfalls, Distress calls, Rasping call
- Active Period: Day
What to do about raccoons
What to do about raccoons
What to do about squirrels
How to Identify a Raccoon Conflict in your Home:
The best way to prevent a raccoon from gaining entry into our homes is to evaluate if you have any compromised structural areas of your home where they can easily get in to establish a den site. If we provide the resources needed for them to survive and thrive in and around our homes, it’s l
How to Identify a Raccoon Conflict in your Home:
The best way to prevent a raccoon from gaining entry into our homes is to evaluate if you have any compromised structural areas of your home where they can easily get in to establish a den site. If we provide the resources needed for them to survive and thrive in and around our homes, it’s like an open house invitation for our wild neighbors!
Knowing what to look out for and some general raccoon facts can help us determine if you may have some masked friends living amongst you and your family!
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Attic, Chimney, Soffitt, Out-buildings
- Entry Point: Roof level
- Common Entry Point: Soffit, Chimney, Trim/Roof, Dormer, Vents
- Size of Entry Point: >4 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: 1
- Den Establishment Period: Fall-Winter
- Young Born: Spring: April-May
- Number of Young per Litter: 1-7
- Young Weaned: >60 days
- Common Sounds Heard: Bird like chirps, all manner of growls, clumsy plodding
- Active Period: Night
What to do about skunks
What to do about raccoons
What to do about skunks
How to Identify a Skunk Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Crawlspace, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Entry Point: Ground Level
- Common Entry Point: Foundation, Basement, Garage, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Size of Entry Point: <4 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: 2
- Den Establishment Period: Late Winter
- Young Born:
How to Identify a Skunk Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Crawlspace, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Entry Point: Ground Level
- Common Entry Point: Foundation, Basement, Garage, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Size of Entry Point: <4 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: 2
- Den Establishment Period: Late Winter
- Young Born: Spring-Summer (May-June)
- Number of Young per Litter: 4-10
- Young Weaned: >60 days
- Common Sounds Heard: Announced by smell rather than by sound
- Active Period: Night
What to do about bats
What to do about raccoons
What to do about skunks
How to Identify a Bat Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Attic, Soffit, Under trim board
- Entry Point: Roof level
- Common Entry Point: Soffit, Trim/Roof, Dormer, Vents
- Size of Entry Point: <1 inch
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes (colony)
- Number of Litters per Year: 1
- Den Establishment Period: Early Spring
- Young Born: Early-Lat
How to Identify a Bat Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Attic, Soffit, Under trim board
- Entry Point: Roof level
- Common Entry Point: Soffit, Trim/Roof, Dormer, Vents
- Size of Entry Point: <1 inch
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes (colony)
- Number of Litters per Year: 1
- Den Establishment Period: Early Spring
- Young Born: Early-Late May
- Number of Young per Litter: 1-2
- Young Weaned: September
- Common Sounds Heard: Squeaking, rustling
- Active Period: Night
What to do about opossums
What to do about groundhogs/woodchucks
What to do about groundhogs/woodchucks
How to Identify a Opossum Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Crawlspace, Basement, Garage, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Entry Point: Ground Level
- Common Entry Point: Foundation, Basement, Garage, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Size of Entry Point: <4 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: No
- Number of Litters per Year: 2
- Den Establishment Period: Vari
How to Identify a Opossum Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Crawlspace, Basement, Garage, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Entry Point: Ground Level
- Common Entry Point: Foundation, Basement, Garage, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Size of Entry Point: <4 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: No
- Number of Litters per Year: 2
- Den Establishment Period: Various
- Young Born: Various
- Number of Young per Litter: 1-12
- Young Weaned: >90 days
- Common Sounds Heard: May hiss if cornered
- Active Period: Night
What to do about groundhogs/woodchucks
What to do about groundhogs/woodchucks
What to do about groundhogs/woodchucks
How to Identify a Groundhog/Woodchuck Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Crawlspace, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Entry Point: Ground Level
- Common Entry Point: Foundation, Basement, Garage, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Size of Entry Point: 1-3 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: 1
- Den Establishment Period: Late Fal
How to Identify a Groundhog/Woodchuck Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Crawlspace, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Entry Point: Ground Level
- Common Entry Point: Foundation, Basement, Garage, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Size of Entry Point: 1-3 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: 1
- Den Establishment Period: Late Fall
- Young Born: Spring: April-May
- Number of Young per Litter: 2-5
- Young Weaned: >60 days
- Common Sounds Heard: Whistle, Chatter, Hiss, Squeal, Growl
- Active Period: Day/Crepuscular
What to do about fox
What to do about groundhogs/woodchucks
What to do about birds
How to Identify a Fox Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Crawlspace, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Entry Point: Ground Level
- Common Entry Point: Foundation, Basement, Garage, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Size of Entry Point: >4 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: 1
- Den Establishment Period: Winter or Early Spring
- You
How to Identify a Fox Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Crawlspace, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Entry Point: Ground Level
- Common Entry Point: Foundation, Basement, Garage, Porch, Deck, Shed
- Size of Entry Point: >4 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: 1
- Den Establishment Period: Winter or Early Spring
- Young Born: Spring: March-April
- Number of Young per Litter: 2-7
- Young Weaned: >63 days, Early Fall
- Common Sounds Heard: Quiet, usually smelled rather than heard
- Active Period: Night/Crepuscular
What to do about birds
What to do about Woodpeckers
What to do about birds
How to Identify a Bird Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Dryer and Bathroom vents, Gutter, Attic
- Entry Point: Roof level
- Common Entry Point: Dryer, Range and Bathroom vent, Soffit
- Size of Entry Point: 1-3 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: Several
- Den Establishment Period: Various
- Young Born:
How to Identify a Bird Conflict in your Home:
- Shelter Type Most Often Used: Dryer and Bathroom vents, Gutter, Attic
- Entry Point: Roof level
- Common Entry Point: Dryer, Range and Bathroom vent, Soffit
- Size of Entry Point: 1-3 inches
- Territorial/Defined Home Range: Yes
- Number of Litters per Year: Several
- Den Establishment Period: Various
- Young Born: Spring: Various
- Number of Young per Litter: 2-5
- Young Weaned: Fledge: 2-3 weeks
- Common Sounds Heard: Chirping, Rustling, Tapping, Fluttering
- Active Period: Day
What to do about Woodpeckers
What to do about Woodpeckers
What to do about Woodpeckers
Why are woodpeckers knocking on your home?
- Woodpeckers like making a satisfyingly loud noise because it can proclaim the bird’s territory.
- Woodpeckers also peck holes to excavate a nest or roost hole on the siding of houses.
- Woodpeckers also could be feeding on insects living in the siding of your home.
How to deter woodpeckers from home:
- Uti
Why are woodpeckers knocking on your home?
- Woodpeckers like making a satisfyingly loud noise because it can proclaim the bird’s territory.
- Woodpeckers also peck holes to excavate a nest or roost hole on the siding of houses.
- Woodpeckers also could be feeding on insects living in the siding of your home.
How to deter woodpeckers from home:
- Utilizing windsocks, pinwheels, helium balloons (shiny, bright Mylar balloons are especially effective), strips of aluminum foil, streamers, or reflective tape.
- You can also try covering an affected area with burlap or attaching bird netting from overhanging eaves to the siding. If you use netting, make sure it is taut and set at least 3 inches from the siding to avoid birds pecking through it. Close off openings on the sides to prevent birds from becoming trapped between the netting and the house.
Play Detective and try the Intruder Excluder!
Not sure what kind of wild visitor you have in or around your home?
Hearing animal sounds in your home, but usure of who they belong too? Finding unknown animal scat or prints in places they should not be? Play detective and try the MSPCA's interactive wildlife guide and "Intruder Excluder"! This helpful feature is great for detecting, identifying, and humanely resolving conflicts with unwanted wildlife visitors in and around your home. Click here to try out their interactive online quide!
