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January 27, 2012

Products to Keep Wild Animals Out (Exclusion)

Helping you humanely resolve wildlife conflicts

Adapted from the book Wild Neighbors

  • Animal resistant storage container. John Griffin/The HSUS.

  • Bungee cords are an effective way to keep animals out of garbage cans. The HSUS.

  • Installing a chimney cap. John Griffin/The HSUS.

  • An L-shaped barrier can protect an area from digging animals. John Griffin/The HSUS.

Here are suggestions for the types of merchants to check for many products and some specific vendors who sell less commonly available specialized products.

If you can't find what you need through these suggestions and sources, you can search the Internet using the categories or terms used below.

No endorsement of specific brands, any product line, or any individual product by The Humane Society of the United States is implied or intended by inclusion here.

Animal-resistant trash containers
Bird wires and other roost inhibitors
Bulb cages and gopher baskets
Wire mesh, caulking, and foam sealants
Chimney caps
Fencing
Netting
One-way doors (animal excluders)
Tree protectors
Window well covers

Animal-resistant trash containers

Containers with Screw-on Lids

  • Critter Can offers do-it-yourself instructions and a link to the finished product.  www.crittercan.org, 973/315-3219

Bear-resistant Containers. Most that claim to be “bear-proof” are sturdy metal containers with latching lid.  Plastic containers from these vendors are also sold for household trash in bear-country.

Bird wires and other roost inhibitors

Keep birds off roosting surface with bird wire, bird spikes, bird coils, and similar devices. Many general catalogs and web retailers sell small kits. These retailers specialize in bird control products.

Bulb cages and gopher baskets

Find gopher baskets at garden and farm suppliers in gopher country. You’re most likely to find bulb cages at bulb planting time (autumn) where you buy your bulbs and from the vendor below.

Wire mesh, caulking, and foam sealants

Home and hardware retailers sell a wide variety of caulking and foam sealants. The best wire mesh for excluding animals is made of copper. It’s a little hard to find. If this source doesn’t pan out, you can call the manufacturer for a referral. Or search on the brand name “Stuf-fit” or “copper wire mesh.”

  • Nixalite of America.  www.nixalite.com, 888/624-1189
  • Allen Special Products (manufacturer).  800/848-6805

Chimney caps

Caps are widely available from home and hardware suppliers if you can install yourself. If you want a professional to do it, look for a local chimney sweep.

Fencing

Apron or L-Shaped Fences/Barriers prevents animals from digging under.

Coyote Rollers are added to the top of a fence to keep coyotes from jumping over.

Light- to Medium-duty Fencing is often sold as deer fencing in multiple gauges and sizes. It’s widely available from garden suppliers and nurseries as well as these vendors.

High Tensile Non-electric Fencing uses either multiple smooth wires or woven wire under tension to make a strong barrier for large animals. It’s widely available from farm suppliers including these.

Netting

This versatile product is widely available from home and garden retailers and nurseries, especially during the planting and growing season. Also sold by specialty retailers of bird and deer control products and backyard pond products year round.

One-way doors (animal excluders)

These are modified from live trap designs.  Here are two retailers who offer excluders.

Tree protectors

Garden stores and nurseries sometimes sell these, particularly during planting season. This specialty vendor offers them to the public.

Window well covers

Find these at home and hardware suppliers for do-it-yourselfers or have a window contractor install.

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