Below are general tips intended to help landowners REPEL or prevent and control problems with wild animals. The best way to reduce common wildlife issues is by eliminating access to food, water, and shelter, which is what all animals need to survive.

• Clean up food around bird feeders and remove all feeders and suet in the spring and summer
• Secure or remove garbage immediately and wait until the day of trash pick-up to bring outside
• Feed pets indoors
• Use fencing to cover gardens and plants
• Pick up dropped fruit on the ground
• Use landscaping plants that do not attract problem animals

• Get rid of piles of brush, logs, junk, etc., and stash firewood away from your house or other buildings.
• Mow tall grass near houses or other buildings. Wait until November to mow tall grass to ensure that nesting birds have left the area and that turtles near waterbodies have become fully inactive.

• Use chimney covers and soffit vents.
• Fence in areas such as gardens and underneath decks
• Seal entry holes that lead into the house. Ensure there are no animals inside as this can lead to worse problems.

• Use visual repellents such as scarecrows or lights
• Create noise (i.e. yelling, noisemakers) - be sure to check noise ordinances in your area

• Contact a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator - hire a professional to remove problem wildlife from your prop

DEC provides other helpful resources on handling problems with wildlife. Find out more on the  http://www.dec.ny.gov/