Pest Control & Wildlife

 

Australian wildlife we agree are cute, fuzzy & cuddly in the wild… Right?

But

What happens when wildlife venture indoors?

When talking about pest control most people would consider this a job for cockroaches, spiders, rats & ants right? Here in Australia and in many other places around the world pest control may be called out to deal with an animal that is native to that country.

It can be quite disturbing to discover wildlife in your home because a possum is larger than an ant! Wildlife can become aggressive if they are frightened or feel threatened while they are trapped in an area they are not used to.

Wildlife cannot only destroy plants and property they can also carry disease and disease-carrying fleas and ticks.

How Can Wildlife Introduce Ticks Or Fleas To My Premises?

The paralysis tick is active during the winter and spring months. Native animals such as the bandicoot and wallaby are natural hosts for this type of tick and are able to carry this parasite without showing any physical signs they have been infested.

When bandicoots or wallabies wonder into your yard, there is a high risk of the ticks they are carrying on them to be transferred to your pets.

 

If your property backs onto bush we highly suggest that you keep a look out for any sign of tick or flea infestation.

Last year alone, Sydney’s Best Pest Control took many calls from people who had issues with bandicoots, possums and believe it or not just mammal species but also those that belong to the reptile family such as snakes and lizards.

The important thing to remember is that Australian native wildlife are protected and what many people seem to forget is that we are actually living in their environment, not the other way round.

As more land is cleared to make homes, shopping centres etc. for us to enjoy their natural habitat is being destroyed, so we need to not only learn to live in harmony with native wildlife, but to offer methods to prevent them from extinction.

Wildlife in its many forms play an important role in nature, however once they start to move in doors some of these animals can become a nuisance and a health threat.

Who Is More Likely To Be Visited By Wildlife?

Homes that are situated near wildlife habitats such as forests, reserves, parks, gold courses, rives, railway tracks, vacant buildings and any home that has mature trees in your hard or neighbourhood are more likely to be visited by wildlife.

So What Is The Solution?

First of all, do not call a pest control company begging them to come and kill it. This is not going to happen. Pest control companies are limited when it comes to wildlife and what they can do, depending on the wildlife in question.

For example, we can place possum cages to capture a possum that has been caught in your roof void, or that has been causing havoc in your backyard, once it is caught we release it back into the wild.

If the wildlife you are having issues you is something that we cannot assist with, you will be advised to contact WIRES on 1300 094 737, who will advise you on what to do or to offer to come out and re-house the wildlife, away from your home, but back into the wild where they belong.

There are steps that you can take that can allow both yourself and the wildlife to co-exist such as setting up a possum home, like that which can be seen below, which will provide protection from wind, rain & heat. In doing this, you are providing the possum with an option inside of coming in doors.

If wildlife does come inside your home, don’t try to remove it yourself as by doing so you may be bitten and at risk of catching a disease that can be carried by wildlife. Experienced wildlife handlers know how to approach a trapped and distressed animal and can do so without the risk of harming the wildlife and themselves.

What Is Considered Native Wildlife In Sydney?

There are many different types of wildlife in Sydney and if I was to sit here and write about each and every one of them, this post would not end.

If you would like to know what type of wildlife are in and around Sydney please visit the Australian Museum Wildlife Page.

Prevention Tools

The following tips will assist homeowners ensuring wildlife stays in the wild

• Repair damaged fly screens
• Install caps on any open chimney
• Cover exhaust fan openings
• Inspect roofs annually for signs of water damage
• Keep tree limbs cut back from the roof
• Store firewood away from the house
• Keep garbage in secure containers
• Keep basements and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
• Store birdseed in a secure place and hang your feeders in locations where only birds can reach them
• Provide birds with water, in birdbaths away from the home.
• Plant choices may play a role in whether your yard and garden is more or less attractive to nuisance wildlife.
• Dispose of ripe fruit that has fallen to the ground
• Keep food in airtight containers
• Dispose of garbage regularly.
• Keep pet food and water dishes indoors
• Do not encourage wildlife by feeding them.