If you are a nature enthusiast, a trip far away somewhere in the mountains might seem like the perfect experience if you want to spot some wild animals. But did you know that you don’t have to go that far if you want to observe wild animals?
Your backyard might be a magnet for many animals, and you can have fun observing them from the safety of your home. Depending on where you live, you will see different animals, but generally, you will be able to observe some of them no matter where you are.
We try so hard to keep nature away from our backyard, but it has its ways, and in the end, it will still threaten our property. Yes, sometimes the wildlife might destroy your freshly planted flowers, but you should try to appreciate its presence.
So stop being mad at that squirrel that insists on dropping its nutshells on your car and instead take your binoculars and try to observe it. These are the most common animals you can spot in your backyard!
Deer
If your home is located near a wooded area, don’t be surprised if you ever spot deer in your backyard. This is a rather common occurrence, and this is mainly caused by the urban areas taking a big chunk of their natural habitat.
Hopefully, these creatures are highly adaptable, and they learn how to find food even in the harshest conditions. As a result, you might see them roaming in your backyard looking for something good to eat. One of their favorite snacks is tulips, so if you have any of them planted well, bad news: you probably won’t have them for too long.
Considering all of this, you will probably see deer around your house, and our only advice would be to please be gentle with them. There are a lot of people who believe that the only solution if they want to keep their yards intact is to exterminate the deer, but this is a cruel short-term solution that helps no one.
You can try to be more careful with what you plant, and in this way, you will not have to deal with deer coming to your home. But if you like them, you can let them wander freely and observe them because they are so fun to watch.
Opossum
They are the only marsupials in the US, but unfortunately, they don’t have the best reputation. Opossums are adorable creatures, and they can be found all across the country, which means encountering one in your backyard is a high possibility.
These critters love to eat cat food, so if you have cats and you let them food outside on the porch, you should know that this will surely attract opossums. Compared to raccoons, though, these guys will never dig your yard or tip over your trash cans. Fewer reasons to be mad at them, I guess.
If you see one in your backyard, there is no need to scream and shout because the poor thing is probably more scared than you are. Also, they are a good sign because they do beneficial things for your garden. They eat bugs, snails, slugs, and sometimes small rodents.
Opossums won’t do any harm, but they are still wild animals, so you should not interact with or play with them. Let them be, and things should be fine.
Foxes
These animals are generally very scared of people, but the accessible food they can find around your house tends to attract them to your backyard. If they are hungry, they don’t have a choice, and they will confront their fear of people.
Keep in mind that if you have small kittens or any pets weighing less than five pounds, you should be careful and keep them inside if you ever spot foxes around your house. Generally, they don’t attack fully grown pets, but the small ones can be easy prey for them.
Also, no matter how hard you try there is no effective solution to keep them out of your yard. Making loud noises could work and make them run, but the next night they can be back. They don’t usually cause trouble, so you don’t need to worry too much.
Alligators
This is one backyard encounter you will only have in a few states, including Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Here, alligators often come into the yards of people, and everybody is used to them. At this point, they are a regular part of life, and that’s it.
This happened because humans have turned the natural habitat of alligators into housing and other developments, and now they don’t have a place of their own. One very popular spot where alligators like to gather is golf courses.
If you spot an alligator in your backyard and you want to scare it away, don’t handle the situation alone because it can turn into a disaster really fast. If an alligator has come too near to the house for comfort, contact your local animal control agency. They are experts who know how to handle these wild critters.
Those who live in areas where alligators are frequent are advised to keep their pets indoors at all times unless they are outside with you and you are actively looking at them.
Raccoons
You can encounter them all around your country, so they are a regular sight. With their little hands, these guys love to steal food, especially cat food. They are nocturnal animals, so you will probably usually see them at night. So, if you have pet food or garbage in your backyard, you can expect to see them.
If you don’t like to have them around, there are a few tricks you can use to make them go away. First of all, don’t leave food outside. Second, make sure all of your garbage cans have sturdy lids.
We know that they are cute, but please don’t feed them while they are in your backyard. Why? Accustoming them to humans is not a good idea, and your neighbors will not appreciate you bringing them raccoons.
Also, don’t try to pet them and just let them go about their business. This is the safest way to approach them.
Moose
If you live in the northern part of the country, you are probably familiar with the moose. They are fantastic creatures, and most people are impressed by their imposing size. They are much, much bigger than the deer and also not so easy to encounter.
Hopefully, moose are pretty docile because this is their nature, and as a result, people are not that angry to ding them in the backyard. You can leave them alone, and they will go away on their own. Also, they are not known to destroy things.
If you want to see moose more often, you can lure them by building a “sanctuary” in your backyard. This means you will make a place for them that will make them feel comfortable and encourage them to stop by. If you succeed in doing this, keep in mind to not do it to the moose and pet them. You can look at these amazing animals from a distance.
These will help you observe the wildlife better: 300×25 Binoculars for Adults and Kids
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