One Man’s Trash is Another Animal’s Treasure
Rebecca Merenyi , Guest Blogger
This blog is written by Rebecca Merenyi.
As winter draws near, the supply of readily accessible food for wildlife can decline. This may lead the hungry critters to a seemingly easy supply of snacks that we put out once every week – our trash. The most common critters seen rummaging through or toppling over bins are raccoons.
The negative impact that this trash buffet has on the animals that choose to dine here is often not known to people. An animal getting into your trash may seem harmless but the ingestion of harmful substances, human conflict and an increased likelihood of being hit by a car are just a few of the dangers that await animals that become habituated to dining on garbage.
Raccoons consume a variety of food items in the wild, and have been known to be particularly interested in pet food, peanuts and fruit. The notable intelligence of a raccoon combined with its dexterous paws make it a worthy adversary in the quest to keep garbage in its intended place.
Here are some quick tips to protect these critters as well as yourself:
- Early riser – Raccoons are nocturnal so putting the garbage out first thing in the morning on pick-up day limits their chance to access it.
- Lock it tight – Using bungee cords or bricks to secure the lid.
- Keep garbage clean – Though it may sound like an oxymoron, rinsing out recycling (cans, bottles etc.) and cleaning out the green bin helps keep the food odours at bay.
- Natural deterrents – Animals often don’t like the smell of peppermint oil or vinegar; sprinkle some on the container to make it seem less appealing.
- Animal proof containers –An animal proof bin can be purchased at your local hardware store if all other attempts fail.
As human development continues to encroach on wildlife habitat, it is of ever increasing importance to work together to make sure our wildlife stay wild. Minimizing interaction with raccoons and ensuring that no temptations are present for them to visit helps ensure that our wild friends stay that way.
To learn more about to keeping wildlife out our your garbage, check out these resources posted by some of Canada’s large cities:
