Tips to Eliminate Wildlife Conflicts

Prevent and Control Wildlife Issues on Your Property

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.

R emove food sources

• 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

E liminate cover and shelter

• 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.

P ut up barriers

• 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.

E xcite or agitate

• Use visual repellents such as scarecrows or lights
• Create noise (i.e. yelling, noisemakers) - be sure to check noise ordinances in your area
• Haze (i.e. chase away with dogs, remote control cars and planes, etc.). Do not haze a migratory bird that is nesting, as this is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

L egally remove or "take"

• Contact a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator - hire a professional to remove problem wildlife from your property.
• Remove or "take" nuisance animals on your own in accordance to New York State laws and regulations.

Other Helpful Resources

DEC provides other helpful resources on handling problems with wildlife. Find out more on the Nuisance Species page.