Tips on How to Encourage Wildlife to Move Out on Their Own

By Jennifer Howard

Read Time: Approx. 5 minutes

Our weather is not helping either. Warm, cold, sleet, warm again, cold again. Everyone and everything are confused with some wildlife babies being born at unusual times of the year. Climate change is hitting the world everywhere.

Please, we cannot stress this enough, DO NOT RELOCATE. Our new volunteers are learning the reality of wildlife in trouble such as people relocating wildlife mothers, and then finding their precious young afterwards, now orphaned.

It is likely that most wild animals now have their young with them. If you have unwanted wildlife guests in your house, there are humane ways to encourage mothers to move their little ones on their own. But you need to be patient. Give the mom 24 hours to one week to move her babies. She may have a few babies to relocate and must be left alone to do that on her own timetable; this is critical.

Here are a few ideas to have mom remove her babies on her own or to prevent wild animals from taking residence in your home.

1. Attics. Mothers want quiet places to raise their babies; make it uncomfortable for them. Place a light in there and leave it on 24/7, with the radio left playing; she will not like either.
2. Under a deck or cottage. You can do the same as with the attic. Also get a margarine container, poke holes in the lid and soak a cloth in ammonia or ammonia-based products like Windex. Put the cloth in a container and seal with lid. Attach a rope to the container using tape (for easy retrieval) and put the box under or near where the animal enters and leaves. Each time the animal removes the box, toss it back in. Eventually it will give up and leave because of the unpleasant odor. Placing a camera at the entry point will let you know if the animal has finally left. If after a few days, you see no further activity then it’s safe to seal up the entrance.
3. Inspect your home in the fall and fix any possible entry areas.
4. Secure your sheds and decks in the early fall. To prevent animals overwintering or having babies please make sure nothing is under your sheds and decks before you secure the entrance. But remember, our wildlife is losing their habitat quickly all around us, and they need someplace to overwinter. If it is safe and you can allow them to stay, then provide them with this kindness.

Please follow the steps above or call us for advice and instructions on what to do. We are there to help you. And the wildlife. Call us at 905-729-0033. Remember, not all removal companies are kind either, they may say they will relocate but don’t. Do your research as there are good ones out there too.

Following our ideas above should work with no stress to the family. Most importantly, this takes a huge load off us, so we can admit those animals in real need. Leaving the parents to raise their young normally is their babies’ best chance at life.

Wild baby animals are a lot of work as they don’t always arrive in good shape. Some need round-the-clock care. Sleepless nights and long difficult days can be hard on volunteers, but they do it out of the love they have for wildlife.

If you would like to make a difference, please consider becoming part of our team! The more volunteers we have, the more wildlife in need we can help!

Never keep wildlife in your care, it is illegal; 24 hours is the legal time frame allowing you to find a facility to take it in. Feeding if done wrong can kill the little ones – this cannot be stressed enough. Let’s work together. Help is in Your Hands. It’s in All Our Hands.

Jen Howard

Procyon Volunteer/photographer