Indoor and Outdoor Den Sites

photo: ODNR Design Department

Your goal is to make it very unpleasant for the nesting animal to stay before they settle in and start a family. Once an animal has newborns to protect and provide for, they'll be a lot less likely to evacuate. If this happens and the following deterrents are ineffective then call a wildlife rehabilitator or wildlife center to have the animals removed and relocated.

Lights

Disturb the animal's sleep by placing lighting in their den. Try bright flashlights, flood lamps or blinking strands of holiday lights. It is best to leave the lights on 24 hours a day. If this is not possible, make sure they are on during the day for nocturnal animals such as raccoons, skunks foxes, coyotes and opossums and during the night for squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, voles and woodchucks.

Noise

Play a radio, portable alarm clock, noisy children's toy or anything that makes noise repeatedly either in or near the den. It is best to have the sound on for 24 hours a day. If this is not possible, make sure they are on during the day for nocturnal animals such as raccoons, skunks foxes, coyotes and opossums and during the night for squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, voles and woodchucks in order to disturb their sleep.

Odor

Place rags soaked in ammonia in the den for one week. Ammonia has an irritating smell. Over time, the ammonia will dissipate so it is important to re-soak the rags daily.

Very Important: Do not use ammonia-soaked rags from March through August. The fumes may injure infant animals that are too young to remove themselves from the area.

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