Protecting your home from wildlife is essential to preventing any liabilities from occurring to your home or loved ones. It’s not unusual to see coyotes, black bears, or badgers wandering in and out of residential neighborhoods much like you would see a raccoon or opossum. Animals and humans have a complicated relationship. They are not used to respecting people’s property or worrying about safety. When wildlife approaches your property, costly damage and personal injury can follow.
How To Keep Your Home Safe From Wildlife
Even though you have home insurance to help address wildlife damage, you can save money by avoiding having to make a claim. Here are ways to keep critters off your property.
Put Up a Fence
There are options for wildlife protection for your property. A fence works to stop animals of all sizes, and you can find them in different materials to withstand damage from larger creatures. Fences provide the ultimate barrier. Your home insurance policy may protect these structures in some cases. If your primary threat is deer or larger animals, ensure the fence is at least four feet tall. Suppose you are avoiding animals that burrow, like gophers. Your fence needs to be extended into the ground at least a foot.
Minimize Invitations
Animals often leave their comfort zones when hungry and looking for food. Several things can act as a food source, whether it’s a vegetable garden, bird feeder, or food dish for your pets. It’s best to leave food sources out and bring them in at night. Secure any open containers of trash to avoid the smell attracting wildlife. Don’t dump leftovers or other scented garbage in the yard, as this can also create unwanted visitors.
Be sure to cover your compost pile, as many creatures would willingly dig through the area for food. A vegetable garden can be harder to secure, but a fence can help. You can also try planting strongly scented herbs, toxic plants, or plants with thorns to help keep wildlife at bay.
Use a Guard Dog
A furry friend can also make an excellent deterrent for unwanted animals. Dogs will often chase smaller animals away to protect their territory and in some cases, will even go after larger animals. At the very least, a dog will bark and alert you to the presence of the animals or scare them away.
Even though they may seem harmless, animals can carry diseases and bacteria and increase property damage risk. These are three easy ways to keep your home and family safe from invading wildlife.
About Brooks, Todd & McNeil
Since 1839, the independent agents at Brooks, Todd & McNeil have been pleased to offer our community the best and most affordable policies from a variety of providers. Our dedicated facilitators are ready to put their 75 years of combined experience to work on your claims. To learn more about our products and services, contact us today at (800) 448-4567.