9
sometimes few dead trees
around for them.
If woodpeckers have chosen
an unacceptable place to peck,
the easiest solution is to put
plastic bird netting over that
area, secured so that it’s tight
enough that they can’t get
behind it.
Aluminum flashing or wire
mesh are other suggestions.
Some species will use
appropriate nest boxes, but
dead trees (also known as
“snags") are the most
attractive temptation.
If you have a dead tree on
your property, leave it in place.
If it’s in an unsafe location,
chop it down and move it to a
better spot, perhaps anchoring
it to another tree.
Canada geese are not
generally a problem for the
average homeowner, since flocks
prefer larger expanses of grass
and water than are found in the
typical yard.
If you do attract these
handsome birds, one pair will
generally claim a small pond as
its territory and will defend it
from any other individuals.
Once the young are hatched,
the parents will instinctively
march them overland to
another body of water for
safety.
Problems usually only occur
if supplemental food is being
provided for the geese, causing
them to give up their
instinctive migration pattern.
Letting grasses grow longer,
planting alternatives to turf
grass, and installing
hedgerows as barriers to
landing are techniques that
sometimes discourage geese.
If large flocks are damaging
crops, you can offer alternate
food sources by planting lure
crops in another area. Farmers
can apply for surplus grain from
the Commodity Credit
Corporation for this purpose.
To protect ponds, mow to the
water’s edge to eliminate cover,
install a 3' poultry fence around
the water, create a grid of
monofilament line across
small ponds, or frighten the
geese away with anchored
helium balloons or strips of
red and silver mylar ribbon.
Although we have been
focusing on “wildlife," it
should be mentioned that
one of the greatest
“nuisance animals" is the
popular house cat. They are a
huge problem in this country,
taking an enormous toll on
birds and small mammals
such as voles and chipmunks.
In addition to the direct
losses, they are killing the
basic food sources of larger
wildlife, such as foxes and
owls, which are already
suffering from reduced
habitat.
Bells on collars are usually
not effective. Surrounding bird
feeders with wire mesh can
reduce losses, but the best
treatment is for cats to be
kept indoors.
Having read all of the above
information, you may believe
that you are going to walk out
the door and find your yard
and home under siege from all
manner of harmful and
aggressive wildlife!
This is certainly not the
case. Generally speaking, if
you work toward preventing
access to your home and
provide natural planting areas
on your property, the wildlife
that you attract will bring you
hours of enjoyment, and you
will be contributing to the
protection of biodiversity.
