Nature Connection: When Nature Pays A Visit

Recently I was teaching one of my outdoor art classes when my phone began to blow up with texts. My daughter apologized for texting during class but said she “had a situation” and needed to discuss it with me. With the text came a photo that was both a bit alarming and hilarious at the same time. There on her living room curtain was a very perplexed young possum.

The little guy avoided capture for about 10 minutes, but she was finally able to throw a towel over it and bundle it up to carry it outdoors, back where it belonged. This was after securing her curious pets in a back room. 

It was the attention of her pets that first alerted her to the trespassing possum. Fortunately, her pets weren’t interested in catching the possum, at least when they first spied it, giving her a chance to distract and relocate them without anyone being harmed. For those wondering, she has two indoor cats and a dog that is mostly hound.

Anyway, the little possum was definitely big enough to be on its own and it wandered off once safely outside, hopefully never returning to a living room. It was decided that the little guy had squeezed through a little hole beneath the water heater which it had accessed from under the deck.

Wildlife prefers to stay wild and outdoors, but we all know that sometimes those boundaries get a little blurred. Flying squirrels move into attics, snakes like damp basements, raccoons are always looking for a cozy spot to rest, and mice will take advantage of every opportunity to move in with you no matter where you live.

There is other wildlife we live with in our homes, basements and garages. Most of it is quite small. Flies, moths, spiders, mites, earwigs and maybe a centipede or two will happily share your space if allowed. A few bees and wasps may make it indoors as well, though they are usually most happy to leave as soon as possible.

Some of us live with wildlife, or the possibility of wildlife, better than others. For instance, I do not want mice to live in my house, but I’m somewhat tolerant of certain spiders. I will let flies out the back door but have been known to wage war on a plague of pantry moths. I don’t use poisons so this was a process, but in the end no pantry moths remained, and we are vigilant about preventing their return.

I see posts online all the time from people freaking out because a wren got stuck in their shed or a squirrel got into the attic. Most of the time, leaving the door and windows open will be enough to send them on their way. Making noise, flashing bright lights, and generally making a nuisance of yourself will work with most mammals. The trick is to be behind the animal so it has a clear shot to escape. I see people standing between the creature and the door all the time, and that just doesn’t work. They’re not going to run past you to run out the door. Give them a clear path.

You can trap or call for help, but know this. It is illegal to transport an animal to a different location, and most pest control companies kill the intruder to avoid paying a fine for moving it. Many will set traps with poisons that the animal eats before it wanders off to sicken and die. In these cases, pets, hawks, foxes and coyotes may kill and eat the poisoned animal, which in turn poisons them.

The best way to deal with unwanted wildlife is to prevent it from getting in. Fall is when many animals are looking for a warm, safe place to spend the long winter nights. Your attic, basement and garage are warmer than outdoors. So is your shed or garage. If you store a vehicle such as a boat outdoors under a tarp, it can also become a snug winter home. Some mice have been known to get cozy in unused gas grills tucked away for the winter. 

Now is the time to repair and plug any holes you can find, especially near the foundation of your home. Check the area under your deck. Fix any cracked or broken basement windows. Do this for your shed and garage as well. Go up into the attic and take a good look around. Check vents and areas where insulation may have been blown in. Small animals, including bats, can get in very tiny places, so many of us use hardware cloth over the vented areas to reinforce them while keeping the air flow open. Check where water, gas and electric come into your home as well as all window and door frames. If you have drains in your basement, they may be giving unexpected access to your home as well.

Tree branches over roofs are other ways animals gain access to your home from above, so maybe trim some of those. It will be better for your roof in a storm as well.

Keep screens on your windows to keep flies and other flying insects out, but also check all your plants that summered outdoors before bringing them in. 

As the weather cools, remember that you aren’t the only one thinking about staying warm and cozy this fall. This doesn’t mean, however, that we have to welcome unwanted wildlife into our homes. By taking precautions now, you can avoid having to make what are often fatal decisions for any visitors later. Be kind to wildlife, but also to yourself.