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Pests on Your Property That Can Be Dangerous to You and Your Family
You might enjoy visiting nature preserves and local woodland parks where you can observe wildlife in its natural habitat. Zoos are fun, too. But inviting or feeding wild animals to your yard and home can be very dangerous for several reasons. The animals may react unexpectedly if they, correctly or not, feel endangered.
Some might attack your pets, feeling they are a territorial threat or competing for food. In some cases, they may even attack you or your children.Here are local wildlife creatures that you should keep off your property. Contact local experts for help if needed.
Raccoons, Skunks, and Possums
Smaller ground creatures such as raccoons, skunks, and possums may seem harmless and even cute. You might even be tempted to entice them into your yard by leaving food scraps so that you can then snap photos. But these mammals can become ferocious when they feel threatened. They have been known to attack people, biting and clawing them, resulting in the need for medical treatment. A more serious risk is the possibility they carry rabies, a viral infection that is fatal to animals and humans unless treated immediately with antiviral injections.
Deer and Elk
These graceful creatures are lovely to look at and can become friendly enough to eat from your hand. However, you should never do that. If startled, they can kick and buck, causing serious injuries to people near them. They also carry ticks that can transmit Lyme disease to humans that are bitten by the ticks. Often, the tick bites go unnoticed because they are so small. The first symptom you may really notice might be the bullseye-type rash Lyme disease leaves on the person’s skin.
Bats
Many species of bats are now labeled an endangered species, which means they should not be destroyed, even if they’re unwelcome in your yard. Instead, they should be captured if they are a problem and released elsewhere in a safe wilderness environment, if possible. Since bats can also carry rabies and bite humans to infect them with the disease, it is important to keep them out of your attic, chimney, and other parts of your home.
Coyotes
These dog-size animals usually avoid human contact, but in some areas they are getting bolder in their search for food and a habitat. Coyotes have been known to eat dogs and cats as well as the usual wildlife fare like rodents and small animals. There are reports of coyote attacks, especially those infected by rabies, on children and even adults. It can be difficult to keep them away when they start coming around your neighborhood, and you certainly shouldn’t try to deter them if you aren’t experienced, so contact a coyote removal expert for help.
Wild animals are fun to watch and observe from a safe distance. Don’t get too close, and never let them take up residence on your property. Certain pests can be dangerous to you, your family, and your home, and letting them stay could be disastrous.
