- Do you subscribe to Dharma Dog Training’s Newsletter? You should.
- A Unique Campaign from The Humane Society of the United States
- Rabid bats in Omaha- Stay safe, prepared with these tips
- Springtime Activities in Omaha
- Mill Dog Monthly from Bailing Out Benji
- World Spay Day, Legislative Alert in Nebraska
- Attend the Nebraska Rescue Council’s monthly meeting this Saturday
- Five Hard-to-Ignore Reasons to Adopt!
- Paws in Pink to Benefit Breast Cancer Foundation
- VCA, Inc. Acquires MidWest Vet Specialists from Kansas State University
How to Prevent Wild Animals from Attacking Your Pets
The number of coyote sightings in and around Nebraska’s largest cities, Omaha and Lincoln, is up recently. Details about sightings with some expert advice from wildlife folks can be found in this WOWT article from March.
And with the rise of wild animal encounters in urban areas, you may be beginning to worry about your pets’ safety, especially at night or when you are not home. If you live in a rural area, you may be even more concerned about wild animals attacking your dog, cat, fowl, or livestock. While this is a very real and possible threat, there are some steps you can take to prevent wild animals from attacking your pets. Continue reading to learn more.
Fencing Your Yard
While this may be one of the most costly ways to prevent wild animals from attacking your pets, it is also likely the most effective. Fences, specifically privacy fence-like fences, are excellent at keeping coyotes, foxes, mountain lions, and many of the bigger, more harmful wild animals away from your house, your family, and your pets. To learn more about coyotes and the problems they cause visit coyoteproblem.com.
Depending on what the fencing material is, these fences can even prevent raccoons, opossums, and similar critters from being able to climb them. While fences prevent above-ground movement, some of these animals can still dig underneath the fence and make their way onto your property. In most cases, however, they will not want to put forth the effort and will stay away from your yard and your pets. If a fence sounds like it would be a good investment, it is certainly an excellent way to prevent wild animals from attacking your pets.
Keep Pets Inside
Whenever you are concerned that there may be a possibility of wild animals attacking your pet, it could be a good idea to keep them inside. Whether you have a kennel in your garage, or your pets are part-time inside dogs or cats, any protection at all will keep them out of the reach of wild animals. If you really cannot afford pet access inside, it might be a good idea to put up a kennel structure outside that does not allow critters access once the gate is closed. Just be sure your pet has enough space, warmth, food, and water until you are able to let them roam freely again when you return home from work or wake up. Keeping pets inside is undoubtedly the best way to keep them safe from any type of wild animal, whether it is a pest raccoon, skunk, or a coyote.
Clean Up Your Yard
One of the most important things you should realize is that your yard should not be attracting wild animals in the first place. Generally, when a property continually attracts wild animals, it is because there is an easy food source or shelter found on the property. This is especially the case with raccoons and other urban-dwelling wild animals. One of the best ways to reduce your yard’s attractiveness is to clean up any easy food sources. Be sure that all pet food and trash cans are secured. Make a habit out of picking up any fruit that has fallen from fruit trees. Another great way to reduce your yard’s curb appeal to animals is to clean up any woodpiles or other debris lying about. This simple step alone could prevent many wild animal encounters. If wild animals still seem to be attracted to your property, make sure to contact a professional wildlife control company like All Star Animal Trapping for help.
Leash Your Pets
Regardless of what pet you have, but specifically, if you have a dog, leashing your pet is the best way to keep them safe from wild animals when you are out in nature. Most dogs have a natural instinct to run after wild animals and protect their owner. To prevent them from doing this, a leash is your best tool. If you have a cat or other pet, there are options available that allow you to easily keep your pet restrained as well. If you encounter a wild animal, just be sure to hold onto the leash tightly, and also yell and talk in a deep, loud voice to scare away the critter. By leashing your pet, you will prevent any serious wild animal attacks.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login