As the human population of Massachusetts increases, many rural areas are being developed to accommodate this growth. Consequently, habitats once solely occupied by wildlife are now becoming habitats for humans too. As a result, encounters with wildlife around your home and yard may be more common. Learn more about these specific home and yard concerns.
Garden and lawn concerns
Visit our Help for Gardeners webpage for humane solutions to conflicts with wildlife interested in your garden and lawn.
Responsibly managing your refuse
One person’s trash can be an animal’s downfall. Consider how your trash, if not disposed of properly, can negatively impact wildlife, and the easy steps you can take to keep animals safe.
| Danger: |
How you can prevent it: |
| Animals attempting to eat the residue off of containers can swallow packaging material, which can lead to fatal blockages. |
- Use critter-proof trash containers. (Explore a grant opportunity specific to bears in Berkshire County.)
- Rinse all of your recyclables to remove residue and odors.
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| An animal can get its head stuck inside certain plastic and glass containers, as well as become trapped inside plastic bags, leading to suffocation or overheating. |
- Put container lids back on tightly. If the lids have been misplaced, crush the containers.
- Recycle all plastic bags at your local grocery store. Don’t put plastic bags in the trash.
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| Items like six-pack beverage rings and fishing line can get stuck around an animal’s nose, mouth, and neck, blocking off means of breathing, eating, drinking, and self-defense. |
- Cut up all six-pack beverage holders and other similar packaging so that there are no closed rings.
- Cut fishing line into small pieces or tie it into a secure bundle so that it cannot be unwound.
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| Broken glass and sharp edges on cans can cut an animal’s paws and mouth. |
- Use a can opener that opens cans beneath the lip of the lids, leaving only smooth edges on the cans and lids. Completely separate lids from cans.
- Take care when placing glass bottles and containers into bins so that they do not break.
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Finding solutions through a private company
The MSPCA can offer you advice and solutions that will help you solve your conflicts with wildlife in a humane, long-term, and cost-effective manner. For help with specific species, view our Animal Information and use the interactive Intruder Excluder tool, and Humane Vendor pages. If you choose to go to a private company for help, review our tips for identifying a company committed to humane resolutions and see our list of example companies.
Avoiding conflicts with wildlife around your home and yard
- Enjoy wild animals from a distance. Never handle or attempt to pet or feed wildlife. Do not keep wildlife as pets.
- Secure trash and recycling bins and containers. See above trash concerns for more information.
- Thoroughly clean outdoor grills after use.
- Clean up spilled seed from bird feeders or remove bird feeders entirely.
- Secure chimneys with a chimney cover and cover dryer vents.
- If you think a wild animal may be sick or injured, contact your local animal control officer, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, or a wildlife rehabilitator immediately.
- Visit our interactive tool — the Intruder Excluder — that will help you identify the animal you are having a conflict with and find a humane, long-term solution.
Additional information
