As winter’s spell breaks and warmer weather arrives, Oshawa residents start dusting off their camping gear and eying the weather for the first opportunity to head out into the great outdoors. Nothing beats camping to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life.

It’s almost always a treat to spot wildlife when camping. It’s part of what many people love about getting in touch with nature. However, no matter how cute you may think those raccoons are, it isn’t good for them or you to make a space for them next to you at the campfire and hand over your gooey, melty s’more. You can’t call for wildlife removal in Oshawa to help if critters invade your camp, but here are a few things you can do to avoid encounters that may harm you or the animals.

Don’t Leave Your Food Unattended

You just finished a hearty meal, and now you’re ready to relax by the fire. Cleanup can wait, right? Well, no, it really can’t. Unattended food is an invitation for even the most docile and shy creatures. A skunk may take advantage of backs turned to the picnic table to sneak up and grab Junior’s plate of unfinished food.

Whether you’re setting up for a meal, already finished, or putting snacks out for general consumption, walking away from the table for any length of time risks a visit from birds, squirrels, raccoons, skunks and even bears. If you’re camping with kids, make sure they know they can’t leave food on the table or toss any out for wildlife to feed on.

Use a Locking Cooler

If you’ve experienced raccoons raiding your rubbish bin at home, you know just how clever these animals are! They are certainly smart enough to open your cooler, and they aren’t the only ones who can. Bears and skunks are perfectly capable of lifting the lid and helping themselves to the contents inside.

Make sure you have a durable, hard-sided cooler that you can lock, and keep it fastened when you aren’t in the immediate vicinity. You may want to wrap a rope around the cooler as an added deterrent. It’s also a good idea to store the cooler in the trunk of your vehicle. Any food that doesn’t go in the cooler should be kept in a durable bag and kept in your trunk or hung at least seven feet off the ground (and never in your tent!).

Maintain a Clean Campsite

Keep your campsite clean, ensuring food scraps are picked from the table and ground. Throw all garbage away in designated receptacles. If your campground doesn’t have any, put all waste in extra-sturdy garbage bags and double bag them for good measure. You will also want to hang these up high or store them in the trunk.

Keep a Flashlight Close at Hand

Keep a flashlight close at hand when you’re hanging out at your campsite after dark. You should also have one in your tent within reach. If you hear or see any critters nosing about, shine the light in their direction. Often, that’s enough to scare them off. Don’t be afraid to make a little noise if you need to.

Experts for Residential Wildlife Removal in Oshawa

Allowing wildlife to remain wild is essential, whether you’re camping or enjoying the comforts of home. When animals discover they have easy access to a hearty meal or shelter, they learn quickly that human environments are good places to set up their own camps. They can get aggressive when they feel threatened, and they may not be easily deterred.

While we can’t answer a call for help at the campground, Skedaddle can help you with humane wildlife removal at your home or place of business. If you have wild critters setting up residence in your attic, give us a call! We’ll remove them safely and humanely and seal any access points, so they know they aren’t welcome to return.