A pest or not a pest?
Rats, mice, wasps, geese, woodchucks, snakes, ants, the list could go on and on. We consider lots of animals to be pests. Sometimes we only see one of these species once a year, but we still get upset when they are around. We might not think about it but these animals play crucial roles in our ecosystem which means we shouldn’t be so quick to exterminate them all. Here are a couple of common pests and why it might help improve your property to have a couple of them around:
Raccoons
Being both prey and predator they play a vital role in population control of smaller species AND keeping larger species alive. They feed on insects, frogs, rodents, fish, etc. keeping their numbers in check. Animals like hawks and owls often use raccoons as a source of food. So killing your neighborhood raccoons will not only result in more insects, frogs, rodents, and fish, the birds of prey numbers will struggle. As an added bonus raccoons also feed on plants meaning they help the distribution of seeds. Raccoons are nocturnal and aren’t very aggressive if you don’t bother them so as long as you don’t leave your animal’s food outside at night and keep your garbage well sealed they won’t give you much trouble.
Skunks
Most people who’ve heard stories about skunks are terrified of them, but honestly, they are just smelly cats. They are great animals to have around as long as you don’t try to mess with them. Don’t get too close to them they are content to waddle away and just live their life. The last thing they want to do is spray you because that leaves them defenseless for about ten days. Skunks help to control populations of wasps, termites, cockroaches, snakes, rodents, and insects. Meaning your property can benefit a lot by having a skunk nearby.
https://www.discoverwildcare.org/skunk-doesnt-want-spray-dog/
Mice
Not only are mice a source of food for about everything bigger than them, but they also help the plant world tremendously. They eat and thus distribute plants as well as aerate the soil and distribute fungus. All things that promote great biodiversity.
https://animals.mom.com/rodents-ecosystem-7390.html
Geese
I know firsthand how geese can get on people’s nerves. Last year we had two living in our yard and every day they got braver until one day they were on the roof next to my bedroom window; knocking on the glass and honking at me, at 5 am. Although they can be annoying that’s not to say they don’t also have upsides. Not only do they help spread seeds and keep the soil fertile, they also are great weeders for orchards. Although things wouldn’t go well if they were in your garden, owners of orchards have been known to keep geese around because they won’t eat the woody trees but they will eat every other plant in the area. Not only that but farmers say they are great guard animals because they make tons of noise when someone new comes on the property.
https://renaissancefarmstead.com/2018/09/07/the-benefits-of-geese/
hobbyfarms.com/10-reasons-keep-geese/
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Moths
Moths are an essential part of the diet of many cute animals that you love like birds and hedgehogs. Besides that, moths play a big role in determining the health of the local environment. They are very sensitive species thus they are often studied to determine the amount of climate change or pollutants in the area. A healthy moth population in your area is usually a good indicator.
https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/why-moths-matter
I understand some pests can cause serious damage. Whether it be chewing the wood and wires in your house or eating all of the crops. It’s no wonder that people get mad at these little creatures, but there are ways to set up healthy boundaries to prevent the damage of your property and the overflow of a species while not killing them all and allowing them to fill their niche in the environment. To learn more about making healthy boundaries and improving your relationship with some more problematic animals read my next post which comes out in two weeks.
