Whether you live in town, the suburbs or the country, encounters with wildlife can happen. Many are pleasurable and fleeting, such as the sight of a songbird in the yard or a pelican near the coast. They also can be fun experiences, such as observing a frog, squirrel or butterfly. However, some wildlife species can become an annoyance or even a danger under certain circumstances.
North Florida, including the Tallahassee area, has a mix of communities and critters that may lead to human-wildlife conflicts. With the state’s fast-growing population, already about 21 million, plus over 116 million visitors a year, it becomes even more important to know how to coexist with wildlife and prevent conflicts.
Removing wildlife attractants from your yard is an excellent strategy, but what is an attractant? An attractant is anything that draws wildlife to your yard, such as pet food or trash. It is a bit like hanging out a welcome sign for wildlife that you may be unaware you are doing. Knowing more about wildlife attractants also can help you keep your family and pets safe.
Remember that wildlife generally will not bother you if left alone. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages people to appreciate wildlife from a safe distance. People should also understand how to deter unwelcome wildlife from lingering in yards and neighborhoods. It’s always helpful to know how to lessen the chances of unwanted wildlife visitors.
Here are the most common wildlife attractant issues in yards:
Garbage: Store garbage securely in a garage, sturdy shed or wildlife-resistant container, and only put it out on the curb on the morning of pickup. This will help deter Florida black bears, coyotes, foxes, opossums and raccoons. These species are either attracted to the food they find in our garbage or prey on the mice and rats who may also feed on the garbage.
Pet food: It’s best not to feed dogs or cats outside, but if you do, bring in their bowls at night. This will help keep away that same group of wildlife species.
Bird feeders: You may have put up bird feeders to attract songbirds, but they also may beckon squirrels or other rodents and sometimes even bears. Either remove feeders or try hanging or placing them more strategically where they cannot be easily accessed by unintended visitors.
Gardens, beehives and fruit trees: You may need to install electric fencing to keep wildlife out of your vegetable garden and beehives and to protect your fruit trees. There are quite a few stories of how wildlife can strip a garden, a fruit tree or a flower bed at times overnight. It can be charming to see deer, especially a fawn, wander through your property, but they are eager eaters of fruit and some flowers. Picking up fallen fruit also helps deter visits from a multitude of uninvited wildlife species.
Cats, dogs and domestic livestock: Consider keeping your cats indoors because free roaming cats can attract coyotes. Walk your dogs on a non-retractable leash to give you more control in case of a wildlife encounter. Electric fences are effective in protecting penned domestic livestock, such as chickens and goats from smaller predators, including hawks, foxes, coyotes and bobcats.
Food storage: Bird seed, pet food or food for wildlife feeders like corn should be securely stored, or it will attract hungry wildlife.
In addition to eliminating attractants, there are other strategies that can deter unwanted wildlife. Devices activated by motion can generate a blast of noise, water or light to deter wildlife. Consider barriers that can limit wildlife access, such as blocking off crawl spaces under your house or deck and clearing brush and brush piles near your house.
You also may want to consider talking with your neighbors and sharing your experiences. Particularly when it comes to keeping bears out of neighborhoods, the FWC encourages communities to work together on solutions. Go to MyFWC.com/Bear for ideas on how to keep bears in the wild and out of your yard and what you can do as a community to educate and inform each other.
Remember wildlife probably won’t visit your yard regularly if there isn’t something there to attract them.
Still need help? Please call the FWC’s Northwest Regional Office at 850-265-3676, and ask for a Wildlife Assistance Biologist. These biologists help people with questions or concerns about wildlife throughout the state. Call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert toll-free, 24-hour hotline to report wildlife emergencies, including dangerous and injured wildlife or wildlife violations, at 888-404-FWCC (3922) and #FWC or *FWC, or text Tip@MyFWC.com. 
Diane Hirth
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
