If you deal with wildlife on your property, it can be a frustrating nuisance. In Central Illinois, you may see raccoons, gray squirrels, and opossums. Why do these critters approach your home? Typically, they smell garbage in the trash can. You can prevent them from diving into your receptacles with these waste management suggestions.

How to Stop Animals from Invading Your Trash Can

1. Secure the Lid

Pesky creatures can quickly get inside the trash can if the cover is loose or ajar. For stronger and fearless animals, all it takes is some force to knock the lid free. In most cases, slews of other animals follow in their tracks. Use a bungee cord to keep the cover secure and prevent entry. Your other defensive option is to place heavy objects on top. You can use a couple of bricks.

2. Contain the Scent

Trash's odor can attract anything from a squirrel to a raccoon. Make proper waste management a priority and double bag your trash so that the scent is less pervasive. Also, you can make any smells unappealing to critters by adding a few mothballs around and inside your cans. Another conventional deterrent is ammonia-based glass cleaner. You can spray the solutions onto bags or the cans to keep pests away.

3. Install Motion Sensor Lights

When an animal scampers onto your property, a light activates and instantly illuminates the area and dumpster. Abrupt visual changes usually frighten most critters away before they have a chance to rummage through your waste.
 

For all of their waste management needs, homeowners throughout Pekin, IL, trust in the team at X Waste Inc. Serving the community since 2003, they offer a wide range of garbage collection and recycling pickup services throughout Central Illinois. They also provide roll-off dumpsters, trash hauling, and other services to help you maintain a clean and healthy property. Visit them online to find out more about their waste management services. You can also call (309) 353-4388 to schedule trash pickup.