WHAT IS GETTING IN MY GARBAGE?

You put the garbage out at night, and by morning there's a mess.

The lid is open. Bags are torn. Food is scattered across the yard. Maybe the garbage can has been tipped over—or you keep finding the same kind of tracks around it.

What is getting in my garbage?

Garbage is one of the most common ways homeowners accidentally attract wildlife. To an animal, your trash isn't garbage—it's an easily accessible source of food and interesting smells.

The first step isn't figuring out what bait to use. The first step is figuring out what animal is getting into the garbage and why it keeps coming back.

START WITH THE MESS

Before cleaning everything up, take a few minutes to look for clues.

Ask yourself:

  • Was the garbage can tipped over?
  • Is the lid still attached?
  • Does the animal appear to have opened the lid?
  • Are the garbage bags torn?
  • Is food scattered around the container?
  • Are there tracks nearby?
  • Are there droppings?
  • Are there scratch or claw marks?
  • Does the damage happen overnight?
  • Is the garbage being disturbed every night or only occasionally?

The way the garbage was disturbed can help narrow down what you're dealing with.

COMMON GARBAGE RAIDERS

RACCOONS

Raccoons are among the most common backyard garbage raiders.

They are excellent climbers and have highly dexterous front paws. A loosely secured garbage-can lid can provide little resistance to a determined raccoon.

Look for:

  • Torn garbage bags
  • Food scattered around the can
  • Raccoon tracks
  • Disturbed lids
  • Repeated nighttime activity
  • Garbage moved or overturned

If the garbage can is being visited repeatedly at night, raccoons should be one of the animals you consider.

SKUNKS

Skunks may investigate garbage for food scraps and other edible material.

They can also leave evidence around the garbage area while searching for insects or other food.

Look for:

  • Small digging holes
  • Disturbed soil
  • Skunk tracks
  • Food scraps
  • Activity around the bottom of the garbage container

OPOSSUMS

Opossums are opportunistic feeders and may investigate garbage after dark.

They aren't typically as capable of climbing and manipulating objects as raccoons, so the nature of the disturbance can provide an important clue.

Look for tracks, droppings and other evidence around the garbage area.

BEARS

If you live in bear country, garbage can become a serious attractant.

A bear can cause substantially more damage than a small backyard animal. Containers may be tipped over, broken into or moved significant distances.

If you suspect a bear is visiting your garbage, do not approach the animal or attempt to trap or handle it yourself. Follow your state or local wildlife agency's guidance for dealing with bears.

FOXES AND OTHER WILDLIFE

Foxes, coyotes and other wildlife may investigate garbage when they encounter an accessible food source.

Domestic dogs and free-roaming cats can also get into garbage, so don't automatically assume every nighttime garbage disturbance was caused by wild animals.

Look at the evidence.

THE TRACKS CAN TELL YOU

Tracks around the garbage can can be some of your best evidence.

Look for:

Number of toes

Overall footprint size

Claw marks

Shape of the foot pad

Walking pattern

Direction of travel

Don't rely on a single footprint. Look for several tracks and consider the entire pattern.

WHAT'S INSIDE YOUR GARBAGE?

The contents of your garbage can also provide a clue.

Food scraps, meat packaging, pet-food containers, birdseed, fruit, vegetables and other organic material can create powerful attractants for wildlife.

Sometimes the solution starts before the garbage ever reaches the curb.

Ask yourself: What is the animal coming here to eat?

Once you identify that attractant, you can begin addressing the reason the animal keeps returning.

GARBAGE CAN + HABITAT = IMPORTANT CLUES

Look beyond the garbage can.

Is there:

  • A wooded area nearby?
  • A creek or drainage area?
  • Brush or tall grass?
  • A deck or shed?
  • A crawlspace?
  • A fence opening?
  • A nearby den or burrow?
  • Pet food left outside?
  • Bird feeders?
  • Fallen fruit?
  • Compost?

Your garbage may simply be one part of a larger food source on your property.

DON'T JUST CLEAN UP THE MESS

Cleaning up the garbage is necessary, but if the food source remains accessible, the animal may return.

Think about the problem in this order:

IDENTIFY THE ANIMAL

↓

FIND OUT WHAT IS ATTRACTING IT

↓

REMOVE OR SECURE THE ATTRACTANT

↓

SECURE THE GARBAGE

↓

IDENTIFY HOW THE ANIMAL IS ENTERING YOUR PROPERTY

↓

CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE CONTROL METHOD

This approach addresses the cause of the problem, rather than simply dealing with the evidence left behind.

TAKE A PICTURE

If you aren't sure what's getting into your garbage, document the evidence.

Take photographs of:

  1. The garbage can and its surroundings
  2. The condition of the lid
  3. Torn bags
  4. Tracks
  5. Droppings
  6. Scratch or claw marks
  7. Scattered food
  8. Nearby holes or trails
  9. Potential food sources around the property

If possible, a properly positioned wildlife camera can also help identify what is visiting the garbage without requiring you to confront the animal.

BACKYARD BAITS® STARTS WITH THE ANIMAL

Backyard Baits® was developed by people who understand that effective wildlife control starts with understanding animal behavior.

Wildlife doesn't know that your garbage is supposed to be off-limits.

It smells food.

It finds an easy meal.

It remembers the location.

And if the food continues to be available, there is a reason to come back.

That's why identifying the animal is only the beginning.

What is it eating? Where is it coming from? Where is it going? Why is your property attractive? And what is the appropriate way to address the problem?

DON'T GUESS. INVESTIGATE.

Find the mess. Study the clues. Identify the animal. Find the attractant. Secure the food source. Then determine the appropriate control method.

Backyard Baits® - Helping homeowners understand problem animals and the habits that bring them home.