OkcPets Magazine May 2022

May/June 2022 • OKC Pets 41 their babies out. Because wild animals pick denning spots that are warm, dark, and quiet, we can often convince them to move by making the location unap- pealing. Change the sight, sound, and smell of the area. Leave a talk radio sta- tion on 24 hours a day. Leave a light on, shine a spotlight, or place a strobe light in the area where the animal is nesting. Place rags soaked in apple cider vinegar in jars or cans near the nesting area. • Repair access points. After an animal has moved on, it’s important to repair all the areas where it had gained access. Buried fencing, cement blocks, gravel, or hardware cloth help to discourage the redigging of any holes. That prevents another animal from moving in. • Remove attractants. Try to determine what is attracting the animal to the area, and remove it. Don’t leave pet food outside overnight. Regularly rake and dispose of bird seed under feeders. Clean your grill after each use. Close and se- cure lids on garbage and compost piles. Remove brush piles or high grass that provide cover and hiding spots. Don’t intentionally feed wildlife. Not only does it attract wildlife to your yard and encourage denning, but it also can create a dependence on you for food. • Add deterrents and repellants to your yard. Install movement, lights, reflective surfaces, or predator decoys that can scare animals away. Those can be as simple as pie tins or reflective tape fluttering in the wind, but they need to be moved frequently to prevent animals from becoming accustomed to them. Sprinkle garlic, cayenne pepper, or other pungent spices or oils in your yard. Pep- permint oil or citronella around patios or gardens also might help to deter rodents, rabbits, and insects from eating your garden. Never use mothballs — they are toxic to animals and humans. Install motion-activated sprinklers. The water and sound will scare animals away from your yard. When you see unwanted wildlife in your yard, wave your arms, yell, or bang pans to chase them away. • Install barriers. Fences and other barriers can keep wildlife from accessing your yard or sections of your property. Use fencing to limit their access to gar- dens, poultry, or denning sites beneath sheds, decks, and slabs. Burying fencing, cement blocks, gravel, or hardware cloth at least 12 inches or laying it horizon- tally across the ground will discourage digging animals such as skunks from excavating den sites or digging around other barriers. Make sure your chimney is capped. Installing electric fences and overhead and underground fencing and securing poultry at night can protect backyard chickens and other poultry. • Aluminum flashing protects trees and saplings from gnawing. Paint- ing trees, docks, and other wooden structures with a mixture of exterior latex and masonry sand is also effective at preventing gnawing damage. Prevention is always the easiest and most effective method for avoiding conflicts with wildlife. For more tips or for help with specific issues, please call WildCare at (405) 872-9338. People trap and relocate red foxes because they see them as threats to pets and children, even though foxes are the size of an average housecat and primarily eat rodents.