How to Deter Rodents from Your Property in Nova Scotia

Rodents such as rats, mice and squirrels are wild animals. Here a number of suggestions for keeping them wild and not attracting them to your property:

• Do not feed wildlife. This includes all wildlife such as birds, deer, bears, raccoons, squirrels, foxes etc. Bird feeders are especially attractive to rodents such as rats. So keep in mind, if you feed birds, you're also probably feeding rodents.
• Secure your garbage. Keep it in metal containers with the lid tightly closed. Do not put your garbage out until garbage day.
• Clean up your yard. Remove junk, clutter and litter.
• Do not put egg shells or any other scraps in your garden to help it grow.
• Remove wood and other debris from your foundation and keep trees, hedges, grass and other growth neatly trimmed. No tree limbs or branches should be close or touching your home.
• Exclusion: Rodents are opportunistic and will be attracted to any breach of a building on your property. It is important to plug cracks, gaps and holes in your foundation and other points of entry on the outside of your home or out building with copper mesh, steel wool, hardware cloth, caulking, expandable foam etc.
• Try not to let food fall between the deck boards when on your patio.
• Keep car doors and windows shut.
• Keep your organic bin as far away from your house as possible. Sprinkle a little pepper (or vinegar) inside every once in a while to repel rodents and other animals.
• Do not use extra organic bins but only the one required by law.
• Get your neighbors on board. Often, it is the neighbor's rodents that becomes our problem. However, as someone once said: compromise and cooperation are the keys to interdependent living, and happy adult relationships.