It’s spring, so most predators are currently in their breeding season. This means that they are going to be hunting more in order to feed their young, so be prepared to have trespassers trying to steal your livestock or other precious animals. Even if they are unsuccessful, an attack can leave your animals with diseases that you don’t want to be spread to your other livestock. Here are some helpful tricks to keep predators away from your property and keep your animals safe:
Understand Predator Behavior
Figure out what predator is preying on your animals. Try to find some footprints or set up a camera to see what it is. Learn the predator’s patterns by researching it. Find out what time of the day it prefers to hunt and what time of the year it’s most active (typically their breeding seasons). Research whether they hunt in packs or solo. Most animals that hunt solo can be unpredictable in nature—most of the time they are sick or injured animals that got lost from their group.
Take extra precautions during the season they’re most active. It’s better to have more preventative measures during these times than to not have enough. Your livestock is valuable, so protect them!
Fencing
Fencing seems like a no-brainer, but there are specific fences that are more likely to deter predators. A white picket fence probably won’t get the job done. Fences with wires along the top can deter predators from jumping or climbing over. Make sure they are also deep into the ground (about 1-2 feet) to prevent any digging under the fence.
An electric fence will also keep any animals from trespassing on your property. You can also consider hanging red flags from fence posts which can deter wolves—so long as you occasionally move the flags.
Fencing won’t keep predatory animals like hawks away from your smaller animals. If you have chickens in a small fenced area, consider putting mesh across the top of the enclosure to keep anything from swooping in.
Keep Animals in an Enclosure
Lock up your animals at night in a relatively safe place. Keep chickens in a chicken coop and larger animals in a barn. If you have outdoor pets, try to bring them inside at night. Make sure there are no areas where predators could get inside.
If your house has pet doors, consider purchasing the pet doors that require a chip worn on your pets’ collar in order to open, or you might just have a gang of raccoons or opossums ransack your kitchen. No one likes waking up to a surprise.
Keep Your Property Tidy
Make your property less desirable to predators by cleaning up. Trimming shrubs and bushes takes away hiding spots, and keeping the grass shorter prevents predators from sneaking up on animals. Pick up twigs and branches to deter predatory birds from making nests on or near your property. Some predators like coyotes are attracted to animal poop, so make sure to pick up after your animals. Also, keep your garbage bins secure or in an enclosed area to prevent any unwanted scavengers.
Use Nite Guard Solar
Nite Guard Solar uses a predator’s instincts against them. Our devices emit a red light that imitates that of a predator blinking. Nocturnal animals thrive in the nighttime when they can’t be seen by prey—Nite Guard prevents this by making predators feel like they’re being watched. It keeps predators away from your animals by making predators think they are the ones being hunted. The device is solar-powered so you don’t have to worry about charging it, and it’s completely weatherproofed! They’re environmentally friendly and will last for years.
Depending on what animals you’re trying to deter, you’ll want to mount Nite Guard differently. You may need to occasionally move the devices to different spots so predators don’t catch on to the trick.
If you have any other questions about Nite Guard’s product, reach out to us and we can answer any questions you have!