Put a Lid on it!
Smart Solutions for Co-existence
So many of the situations that end up with an animal being trapped and killed could be prevented by the use of smart yet simple solutions.
Number 1 culprit in Pittsburgh: Garbage!
There’s a reason why we used a trash can in our logo: it’s the ultimate symbol of the wildlife magnet. In Pittsburgh, garbage is dumped on our streets in plastic bags long before pick-up times, it’s left spilling out of open, unsecured trash cans, it’s scattered in back alleys… And it’s everything urban raccoons dream of. |
Just a little effort is the key to keeping wildlife out of the trash... So here are a few trash-related suggestions:
Action #1: During the week, keep your garbage in secured garbage cans. It’s not hard to find inexpensive, wildlife-proof trash cans. Even the wily raccoon can’t get into some of the simplest models of garbage can sold at every department and home improvement store. We like the ones where the lid slips down over the base, or with a strong locking/clip system that raccoon fingers can’t operate. A simple bungee cord placed over the lid can even be enough of a deterrent to keep prying fingers away!
Action #2: Where possible, don’t put your food garbage out until the morning of pick-up. Wrap and freeze any garbage containing meat or fish that may be especially enticing before placing in outside trash cans for pick-up, especially in warmer months.
Action #3: Organize community clean-ups in your neighborhood, several times a year.
Action #4: Don’t report wildlife, report the garbage cans that are continuously left unsecured and are attracting wildlife.
Those are just a few small ways in which we can all make a big difference. For more ideas on how to keep our wild neighbors at bay, visit the HSUS Wild Neighbors website.
Action #1: During the week, keep your garbage in secured garbage cans. It’s not hard to find inexpensive, wildlife-proof trash cans. Even the wily raccoon can’t get into some of the simplest models of garbage can sold at every department and home improvement store. We like the ones where the lid slips down over the base, or with a strong locking/clip system that raccoon fingers can’t operate. A simple bungee cord placed over the lid can even be enough of a deterrent to keep prying fingers away!
Action #2: Where possible, don’t put your food garbage out until the morning of pick-up. Wrap and freeze any garbage containing meat or fish that may be especially enticing before placing in outside trash cans for pick-up, especially in warmer months.
Action #3: Organize community clean-ups in your neighborhood, several times a year.
Action #4: Don’t report wildlife, report the garbage cans that are continuously left unsecured and are attracting wildlife.
Those are just a few small ways in which we can all make a big difference. For more ideas on how to keep our wild neighbors at bay, visit the HSUS Wild Neighbors website.
There’s no excuse: Put a lid on it!